Using deep convective clouds identified in 16 years of AIRS infrared data for the absolute calibration and stability evaluation of the AIRS 0.4 to 1.0 micron reflected light channels

H. H. Aumann; Steve Broberg; Evan Manning; K. Overoye

doi:10.1117/12.2528834

9 September 2019 Using deep convective clouds identified in 16 years of AIRS infrared data for the absolute calibration and stability evaluation of the AIRS 0.4 to 1.0 micron reflected light channels

H. H. Aumann, Steve Broberg, Evan Manning, K. Overoye

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 11127, Earth Observing Systems XXIV; 111271I (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2528834
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2019, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

In principle, extreme Deep Convective Clouds (DCC) should be perfect Lambertian diffusers of solar reflected radiation. As such they can be used for the calibration of reflected light channels. We use DCC identified with a thermal infrared channels of the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) to evaluate the usefulness of DCC for the calibration AIRS visible light channels. The DCC signal in the reflected light channels approaches the signal expected from a perfect diffuser in only a small portion of the 13 km AIRS thermal IR and 2 km AIRS reflected light channels. This limits the absolute calibration accuracy derivable from DCC to the 5% level, but still allows trend measurements at the smaller than 0.01%/yr level. This technique allows us to estimate the trend in the globally Reflected ShortWave radiation (RSW) as +0.003%/yr with 0.009%/yr one sigma uncertainty. Trends at this level are significant from a climate perspective.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

H. H. Aumann, Steve Broberg, Evan Manning, and K. Overoye "Using deep convective clouds identified in 16 years of AIRS infrared data for the absolute calibration and stability evaluation of the AIRS 0.4 to 1.0 micron reflected light channels", Proc. SPIE 11127, Earth Observing Systems XXIV, 111271I (9 September 2019); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2528834

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available