Comments on: Retrieval of aerosol properties over the ocean using multispectral and multiangle photopolarimetric measurements from the Research Scanning Polarimeter

A recent paper [Chowdhary et al., 2001] (hereafter CCM&T) presents an aeros ol retrieval case study using airborne RSP (Research Scanning Polarimeter) data over dark water to demonstrate the contribution polarization measureme nts can make to passive aerosol remote sensing. The paper also suggests tha t instruments such as MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) [Barnes et al., 1998], MISR (Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer) [Diner et al., 1998], and POLDER (Polarization and Directionality of Earth Reflec tances) (Deschamps et al., 1994], provide only a subset of the retrieval ca pabilities that would be available from EOSP (Earth Observing Scanning Pola rimeter) [Travis, 1993], a satellite version of RSP. In this response, we a rgue that EOSP is not a replacement but a valuable complement to other meas urement approaches. We also contend that MISR is significantly more capable than CCM&T imply.