Retrieval of aerosol properties over the ocean using multispectral and multiangle photopolarimetric measurements from the Research Scanning Polarimeter
J. Chowdhary et al., Retrieval of aerosol properties over the ocean using multispectral and multiangle photopolarimetric measurements from the Research Scanning Polarimeter, GEOPHYS R L, 28(2), 2001, pp. 243-246
The evaluation of the direct and indirect aerosol forcings of climate requi
res precise knowledge of the aerosol optical thickness, size distribution,
chemical composition, and number density. Global monitoring of these parame
ters from satellites requires instruments that make full use of the informa
tion content of the scattered solar radiation. In this paper we analyze mul
tispectral and multiangle photopolarimetric observations performed with an
airborne version of the Earth Observing Scanning Polarimeter over the ocean
and demonstrate their exceptional retrieval potential. Using the 0.865- an
d 2.250-mum channels, we are able to determine the parameters of a bimodal
size distribution, identify the presence of water-soluble and sea salt part
icles, and retrieve the optical thickness and column number density of aero
sols. We also demonstrate that less comprehensive measurements by existing
instruments would fail to provide retrievals of comparable completeness and
accuracy.