Correction of thin cirrus path radiances in the 0.4-1.0 mu m spectral region using the sensitive 1.375 mu m cirrus detecting channel

We have developed an empirical algorithm for removing thin cirrus effects f rom AVIRIS (airborne visible infrared imaging spectrometer) images at any w avelength in the region 0.4-1 mu m using narrow channels near 1.38, 1.24, a nd 0.66 mu m. In this algorithm the imaging pair of 1.38 and 1.24 mu m chan nels is used for cirrus removal over water surfaces, while the imaging pair of 1.38 and 0.66 mu m channels is used over land surfaces. The AVIRIS data on which the algorithm is based were measured from an ER-2 aircraft at 20 km altitude during several field programs over both land and ocean, From th ese data we earlier discovered that narrow channels near the center of the strong 1.38-mu m water vapor bands are very sensitive in detecting thin cir rus clouds. The present paper is a logical continuation of that work. Our n ew algorithm has considerable generality. As a first application, it can be incorporated as a front end to the first-generation moderate resolution im aging spectrometer (MODIS) (on EOS AM and PM platforms) atmospheric correct ion algorithms for ocean color and land applications in order to yield impr oved atmospheric aerosol, land surface, and ocean color products.