Modeling Polarized Solar Radiation from Various Scene Types for Satellite Remote-Sensing Applications

Abstract:

To correct the polarization-induced errors in measured reflected solar spectra, the polarization state of the reflected solar light must be known. In this presentation, recent modeling of the polarized solar radiation from the ocean, desert, forest, and clouds is reported. The modeled polarized solar radiation quantities are compared with the PARASOL satellite measurements for various scene types. A novel super-thin cloud optical depth (OD) retrieval method based on polarization measurement is also introduced. This study provides a reliable approach for making the spectral Polarization Distribution Models (PDMs) for satellite inter-calibration applications of NASA’s future Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory (CLARREO) mission. This study also reports the advance in developing a technique to retrieve super-thin clouds with OD < ~0.3, which are missed by passive satellite sensors like the MODIS.

Key words: Reflected solar radiation, polarization, correction of satellite data, retrieval of super-thin clouds.