Retrieval of aerosol optical properties using MERIS observations: Algorithm and some first results

Area of Science:

• Earth Observation
• Atmospheric Science
• Remote Sensing

Background:

• The MEdium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) provided valuable data from 2002-2012.
• Accurate retrieval of Aerosol Optical Thickness (AOT) from MERIS data is challenging due to spectral limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• Introduce the eXtensible Bremen AErosol Retrieval (XBAER) algorithm for MERIS AOT retrieval over land.
• Extend AOT retrieval capabilities to bright surfaces, overcoming limitations of traditional dark-target methods.

Main Methods:

• Developed XBAER, a novel algorithm utilizing a lookup table (LUT) approach.
• Employed spectral coefficients for surface property parameterization, enabling retrieval over diverse land surfaces.
• Validated MERIS-derived AOT against ground-based Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) measurements.

Main Results:

• XBAER successfully retrieves AOT over both dark and bright land surfaces.
• Preliminary validation demonstrated good agreement with AERONET data (R=0.78).
• Global monthly AOT means derived from XBAER were compared with MODIS and other satellite datasets.

Conclusions:

• XBAER provides a robust method for MERIS AOT retrieval over land.
• The algorithm's ability to handle bright surfaces expands the utility of MERIS data for aerosol research.
• Comparison with other datasets facilitates comprehensive global aerosol monitoring.