Determining the Optimal Aerosol Model and Assumed DT Surface Reflectance in Aerosol Optical Depth Retrieval Procedure for Satellite Images

Chien-Hui Liu

Dark Target, Aerosol Optical Depth, Atmospheric Correction, Remote Sensing.

Aerosol optical depth (AOD) is one of the essential parameters to monitor air pollution using remote sensing technique. It is also the key parameter in atmospheric correction (AC) of satellite images. Dark target (DT) method is the most popular method in AOD retrieval from space. Assumptions of DT surface reflectance and aerosol model should be made, thus could cause errors in AOD retrieval and also the following-on AC. A fixed aerosol model is usually selected in AOD retrieval for a given study area; thus, it is not able to account for regions with larger aerosol variations. In this study, the optimal aerosol model and assumed DT surface reflectance are determined in AOD retrieval for SPOT satellite data. Darkest pixel (DP) target is used as DT. Retrieval of AOD is performed at red band using DP. The accuracy of the AOD retrieval is assessed by ground measured sunphotometer data.

https://doi.org/10.31871/IJNTR.8.5.27