Piffalls in atmospheric correction of ocean color imagery: how should aerosol optical properties be computed?

A New Algorithm for Simultaneous Retrieval of Aerosols and Marine Parameters

We present an algorithm for simultaneous retrieval of aerosol and marine parameters in coastal waters. The algorithm is based on a radiative transfer forward model for a coupled atmosphere-ocean system, which is used to train a radial basis function neural network (RBF-NN) to obtain a fast and accurate method to compute radiances at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) for given aerosol and marine input parameters. The inverse modelling algorithm employs multidimensional unconstrained non-linear optimization to retrieve three marine parameters (concentrations of chlorophyll and mineral particles, as well as absorption by coloured dissolved organic matter (CDOM)), and two aerosol parameters (aerosol fine-mode fraction and aerosol volume fraction). We validated the retrieval algorithm using synthetic data and found it, for both low and high sun, to predict each of the five parameters accurately, both with and without white noise added to the top of the atmosphere (TOA) radiances. When varying the solar zenith angle (SZA) and retraining the RBF-NN without noise added to the TOA radiance, we found the algorithm to predict the CDOM absorption, chlorophyll concentration, mineral concentration, aerosol fine-mode fraction, and aerosol volume fraction with correlation coefficients greater than 0.72, 0.73, 0.93, 0.67, and 0.87, respectively, for 45∘≤ SZA ≤ 75∘. By adding white Gaussian noise to the TOA radiances with varying values of the signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR), we found the retrieval algorithm to predict CDOM absorption, chlorophyll concentration, mineral concentration, aerosol fine-mode fraction, and aerosol volume fraction well with correlation coefficients greater than 0.77, 0.75, 0.91, 0.81, and 0.86, respectively, for high sun and SNR ≥ 95.

Progress in Forward-Inverse Modeling Based on Radiative Transfer Tools for Coupled Atmosphere-Snow/Ice-Ocean Systems: A Review and Description of the AccuRT Model

A tutorial review is provided of forward and inverse radiative transfer in coupled atmosphere-snow/ice-water systems. The coupled system is assumed to consist of two adjacent horizontal slabs separated by an interface across which the refractive index changes abruptly from its value in air to that in ice/water. A comprehensive review is provided of the inherent optical properties of air and water (including snow and ice). The radiative transfer equation for unpolarized as well as polarized radiation is described and solutions are outlined. Several examples of how to formulate and solve inverse problems encountered in environmental optics involving coupled atmosphere-water systems are discussed in some detail to illustrate how the solutions to the radiative transfer equation can be used as a forward model to solve practical inverse problems.

Water-leaving contribution to polarized radiation field over ocean

The top-of-atmosphere (TOA) radiation field from a coupled atmosphere-ocean system (CAOS) includes contributions from the atmosphere, surface, and water body. Atmospheric correction of ocean color imagery is to retrieve water-leaving radiance from the TOA measurement, from which ocean bio-optical properties can be obtained. Knowledge of the absolute and relative magnitudes of water-leaving signal in the TOA radiation field is important for designing new atmospheric correction algorithms and developing retrieval algorithms for new ocean biogeochemical parameters. In this paper we present a systematic sensitivity study of water-leaving contribution to the TOA radiation field, from 340 nm to 865 nm, with polarization included. Ocean water inherent optical properties are derived from bio-optical models for two kinds of waters, one dominated by phytoplankton (PDW) and the other by non-algae particles (NDW). In addition to elastic scattering, Raman scattering and fluorescence from dissolved organic matter in ocean waters are included. Our sensitivity study shows that the polarized reflectance is minimized for both CAOS and ocean signals in the backscattering half plane, which leads to numerical instability when calculating water leaving relative contribution, the ratio between polarized water leaving and CAOS signals. If the backscattering plane is excluded, the water-leaving polarized signal contributes less than 9% to the TOA polarized reflectance for PDW in the whole spectra. For NDW, the polarized water leaving contribution can be as much as 20% in the wavelength range from 470 to 670 nm. For wavelengths shorter than 452 nm or longer than 865 nm, the water leaving contribution to the TOA polarized reflectance is in general smaller than 5% for NDW. For the TOA total reflectance, the water-leaving contribution has maximum values ranging from 7% to 16% at variable wavelengths from 400 nm to 550 nm from PDW. The water leaving contribution to the TOA total reflectance can be as large as 35% for NDW, which is in general peaked at 550 nm. Both the total and polarized reflectances from water-leaving contributions approach zero in the ultraviolet and near infrared bands. These facts can be used as constraints or guidelines when estimating the water leaving contribution to the TOA reflectance for new atmospheric correction algorithms for ocean color imagery.

Assessment of the Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer algorithm for retrieval of aerosol parameters over the ocean

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer aerosol algorithm over the ocean derives spectral aerosol optical depth and aerosol size parameters from satellite measured radiances at the top of the atmosphere (TOA). It is based on the adding of apparent optical properties (AOPs): TOA reflectance is approximated as a linear combination of reflectances resulting from a small particle mode and a large particle mode. The weighting parameter eta is defined as the fraction of the optical depth at 550 nm due to the small mode. The AOP approach is correct only in the single scattering limit. For a physically correct TOA reflectance simulation, we create linear combinations of the inherent optical properties (IOPs) of small and large particle modes, in which the weighting parameter f is defined as the fraction of the number density attributed to the small particle mode. We use these IOPs as inputs to an accurate multiple scattering radiative transfer model. We find that reflectance errors incurred with the AOP method are as high as 30% for an aerosol optical depth of 2 at 550 nm. The retrieved optical depth has a relative error of up to 8%, and the retrieved fraction eta has an absolute error of approximately 6%. We show that the use of accurate radiative transfer simulations and a bimodal fraction f yields accurate values for the retrieved optical depth and the fraction f.

Polarization-discrimination technique to maximize the lidar signal-to-noise ratio for daylight operations

The impact and potential of a polarization-selection technique to reduce the sky background signal for linearly polarized monostatic elastic backscatter lidar measurements are examined. Taking advantage of naturally occurring polarization properties in scattered skylight, we devised a polarization-discrimination technique in which both the lidar transmitter and the receiver track and minimize detected sky background noise while maintaining maximum lidar signal throughput. Lidar elastic backscatter measurements, carried out continuously during daylight hours at 532 nm, show as much as a factor of square root 10 improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) over conventional unpolarized schemes. For vertically pointing lidars, the largest improvements are limited to the early morning and late afternoon hours, while for lidars scanning azimuthally and in elevation at angles other than vertical, significant improvements are achievable over more extended time periods with the specific times and improvement factors depending on the specific angle between the lidar and the solar axes. The resulting diurnal variations in SNR improvement sometimes show an asymmetry with the solar angle that analysis indicates can be attributed to changes in observed relative humidity that modifies the underlying aerosol microphysics and observed optical depth.

Use of shadows to retrieve water vapor in hazy atmospheres

Techniques aimed at retrieving water vapor from satellite data of reflected near-infrared solar radiation have progressed significantly in recent years. These techniques rely on observation of water vapor attenuation of near-infrared solar radiation reflected by the Earth's surface. Ratios of measured radiances at wavelengths inside and outside water vapor absorbing channels are used for retrieval purposes. These ratios partially remove the dependence of surface reflectance on wavelength and are used to retrieve the total column water vapor amount. Hazy atmospheric conditions, however, introduce errors into this widely used technique. A new method based on radiance differences between clear and nearby shadowed surfaces, combined with ratios between water vapor absorbing and window regions, is presented that improves water vapor retrievals under hazy atmospheric conditions. Radiative transfer simulations are used to demonstrate the advantage offered by this technique.

Accurate and self-consistent ocean color algorithm: simultaneous retrieval of aerosol optical properties and chlorophyll concentrations

A new algorithm has been developed for simultaneous retrieval of aerosol optical properties and chlorophyll concentrations in case I waters. This algorithm is based on an improved complete model for the inherent optical properties and accurate simulations of the radiative transfer process in the coupled atmosphere-ocean system. It has been tested against synthetic radiances generated for the Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS) channels and has been shown to be robust and accurate. A unique feature of this algorithm is that it uses the measured radiances in both near-IR and visible channels to find that combination of chlorophyll concentration and aerosol optical properties that minimizes the error across the spectrum. Thus the error in the retrieved quantities can be quantified.

Pitfalls in atmospheric correction of ocean color imagery: how should aerosol optical properties be computed?: Comment

The Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS) experience suggests that in most situations the aerosol models presently in use for atmospheric correction of ocean color imagery are sufficient for this task. It has been shown [Appl. Opt. 41, 412 (2002)] that the top-of-atmosphere reflectances computed for more realistic aerosol models differ from those computed for presently used models but have not shown that they will yield a better atmospheric correction, e.g., through direct application to ocean color imagery. Thus they provide no evidence that the presently used aerosol models are inadequate, or that their use is a pitfall in atmospheric correction.

Evaluation of a reflectance model used in the SeaWiFS ocean color algorithm: implications for chlorophyll concentration retrievals

For the atmospheric correction of ocean-color imagery obtained over Case I waters with the Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS) instrument the method currently used to relax the black-pixel assumption in the near infrared (NIR) relies on (1) an approximate model for the nadir NIR remote-sensing reflectance and (2) an assumption that the water-leaving radiance is isotropic over the upward hemisphere. Radiance simulations based on a comprehensive radiative-transfer model for the coupled atmosphere-ocean system and measurements of the nadir remote-sensing reflectance at 670 nm compiled in the SeaWiFS Bio-optical Algorithm Mini-Workshop (SeaBAM) database are used to assess the validity of this method. The results show that (1) it is important to improve the flexibility of the reflectance model to provide more realistic predictions of the nadir NIR water-leaving reflectance for different ocean regions and (2) the isotropic assumption should be avoided in the retrieval of ocean color, if the chlorophyll concentration is larger than approximately 6, 10, and 40 mg m(-3) when the aerosol optical depth is approximately 0.05, 0.1, and 0.3, respectively. Finally, we extend our scope to Case II ocean waters to gain insight and enhance our understanding of the NIR aspects of ocean color. The results show that the isotropic assumption is invalid in a wider range than in Case I waters owing to the enhanced water-leaving reflectance resulting from oceanic sediments in the NIR wavelengths.

Role of oceanic air bubbles in atmospheric correction of ocean color imagery

Ocean color is the radiance that emanates from the ocean because of scattering by chlorophyll pigments and particles of organic and inorganic origin. Air bubbles in the ocean also scatter light and thus contribute to the water-leaving radiance. This additional water-leaving radiance that is due to oceanic air bubbles could violate the black pixel assumption at near-infrared wavelengths and be attributed to chlorophyll in the visible. Hence, the accuracy of the atmospheric correction required for the retrieval of ocean color from satellite measurements is impaired. A comprehensive radiative transfer code for the coupled atmosphere--ocean system is employed to assess the effect of oceanic air bubbles on atmospheric correction of ocean color imagery. This effect is found to depend on the wavelength-dependent optical properties of oceanic air bubbles as well as atmospheric aerosols.