Advanced Libya-4 radiometric and atmospheric characterization utilizing moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer and visible infrared imaging radiometer suite full-scan reflective solar band measurements

The NASA Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) project provides observed flux and cloud products to the climate science community. The CERES instruments, along with the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) and visible infrared imaging radiometer suite (VIIRS) imagers, are onboard the Terra, Aqua, NPP, and NOAA20 satellites. To produce seamless multi-platform integrated products, long-term sensor stability and inter-calibration are required. Inter-calibration between sensors within the same Sun-synchronous orbit relies on Earth invariant targets because simultaneous nadir overpasses are not possible. To facilitate inter-calibration efforts, the CERES Imager and Geostationary Calibration Group has improved the Libya-4 target characterization. Improvements include full scan angle characterization to enable daily observations, clear-sky identification using individual scan angle dynamic spatial homogeneity thresholds, and atmospheric corrections. The water vapor correction was found to be effective across the full scan, whereas the ozone and aerosol corrections were less effective. The atmospheric-corrected normalized radiance temporal fluctuations are similar across scan angles and spectral bands and between the MODIS and VIIRS imagers, suggesting that the fluctuations are a result of the natural variability of the Libya-4 surface reflectance. The Libya-4 surface variability is more than likely caused by changes in the prevailing winds that alter sand dune orientation and resulting shadows. The full-scan-imager atmosphere and angle corrected reflected solar band radiance trend standard errors are between 0.6% and 1.0%, and for near-nadir observations, they are between 0.5% and 0.8%. The advanced characterization suggests that the Libya-4 short-term surface reflectance anomalies may need to be considered for imager stability monitoring and inter-calibration efforts.