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Frontiers in Remote Sensing Techniques and Applications Using Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suites

A special issue of Remote Sensing (ISSN 2072-4292). This special issue belongs to the section "Satellite Missions for Earth and Planetary Exploration".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2022) | Viewed by 34433

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Xi Shao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Cooperative Institute for Satellite Earth System Studies (CISESS), Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Interests: imaging and sounding sensor calibration and validation; astrodynamics; RF antenna/receiver design; space weather; space environment effects on satellite and sensor
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Xiaoxiong Xiong

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Sciences and Exploration Directorate, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
Interests: remote sensing instruments and missions; sensor calibration and characterization; calibration inter-comparison; on-board calibrators; lunar calibration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Changyong Cao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, Center for Satellite Applications and Research, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Interests: satellite instrument calibration/validation; inter-satellite calibration with simultaneous nadir overpass; satellite measurments for weather and climate applications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) is one of the key instruments onboard Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership (SNPP), NOAA-20, as well as future JPSS spacecraft. The VIIRS instrument provides moderate-resolution, radiometrically accurate global images using 22 visible/near-infrared and infrared bands covering wavelengths from 0.41 to 12.5 microns. With NOAA-20 and SNPP spacecraft being operational and 50 minutes apart along the same sun-synchronous orbit, the VIIRS instruments ensure a continuation of the Earth system observations. The on-orbit calibration/validation, data verification and long term monitoring suggest that the VIIRS on both SNPP and NOAA-20 have been performing well above the specification, maintaining its legacy and serving a broad range of VIIRS user community.

With SNPP VIIRS entering its ten years in-orbit and NOAA-20 VIIRS completing 3 years in-orbit, advances in VIIRS calibration/validation and applications emerge in a wide range of frontiers. The aim of this Remote Sensing special issue is to explore the frontiers in remote sensing techniques and applications enabled by VIIRS onboard SNPP and NOAA-20. The topics contributing to the special issue include, but not limited to:

  • Calibration technique development and results from the on-orbit verification in the post-launch check-out, calibration and validation, and long term monitoring of SNPP and NOAA-20 VIIRS sensor data records.
  • Applications of VIIRS data to empower operational environmental monitoring and numerical weather forecasting.
  • Applications of VIIRS data to provide insight into the properties and dynamics of different geophysical phenomena, including aerosol and cloud properties, sea, land and ice surface temperatures, ice motion, fires, albedo of Earth, and others.
  • Applications of VIIRS data to monitor and investigate changes and properties in surface vegetation, land cover/use, the hydrologic cycle, and the Earth's energy budget over both regional and global scales.
  • Applications of VIIRS day/night band data in studies involving both geophysical and social economic activities.
  • GEO-LEO and LEO-LEO data fusion involving VIIRS to better understand the Earth observation dynamics.

Both submissions of original manuscripts of latest research results and review contributions are welcome.

Dr. Xi Shao
Dr. Xiaoxiong Xiong
Dr. Changyong Cao
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Remote Sensing is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • VIIRS
  • SNPP
  • NOAA-20
  • DNB
  • calibration and validation
  • aerosol
  • cloud
  • fire

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (15 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 8227 KiB  
Article
JPSS-2 VIIRS Pre-Launch Reflective Solar Band Testing and Performance
by David Moyer, Amit Angal, Qiang Ji, Jeff McIntire and Xiaoxiong Xiong
Remote Sens. 2022, 14(24), 6353; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14246353 - 15 Dec 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1754
Abstract
The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instruments on-board the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) and Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) spacecrafts 1 and 2 provides calibrated sensor data record (SDR) reflectance, radiance, and brightness temperatures for use in environment data record (EDR) [...] Read more.
The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instruments on-board the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) and Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) spacecrafts 1 and 2 provides calibrated sensor data record (SDR) reflectance, radiance, and brightness temperatures for use in environment data record (EDR) products. The SDRs and EDRs are used in weather forecasting models, weather imagery and climate applications such as ocean color, sea surface temperature and active fires. The VIIRS has 22 bands covering a spectral range 0.4–12.4 µm with resolutions of 375 m and 750 m for imaging and moderate bands respectively on four focal planes. The bands are stratified into three different types based on the source of energy sensed by the bands. The reflective solar bands (RSBs) detect sunlight reflected from the Earth, thermal emissive bands (TEBs) sense emitted energy from the Earth and the day/night band (DNB) detects both solar and lunar reflected energy from the Earth. The SDR calibration uses a combination of pre-launch testing and the solar diffuser (SD), on-board calibrator blackbody (OBCBB) and space view (SV) on-orbit calibrator sources. The pre-launch testing transfers the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) traceable calibration to the SD, for the RSB, and the OBCBB, for the TEB. Post-launch, the on-board calibrators track the changes in instrument response and adjust the SDR product as necessary to maintain the calibration. This paper will discuss the pre-launch radiometric calibration portion of the SDR calibration for the RSBs that includes the dynamic range, detector noise, calibration coefficients and radiometric uncertainties for JPSS-2 VIIRS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Remote Sensing Techniques and Applications Using Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suites)
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20 pages, 13336 KiB  
Article
Pre-Launch Polarization Assessment of JPSS-2 VIIRS VNIR Bands
by David Moyer, Jeff McIntire and Xiaoxiong Xiong
Remote Sens. 2022, 14(21), 5547; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14215547 - 03 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1199
Abstract
The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instruments on-board the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 20 (NOAA-20) and Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS-2) spacecraft, with launch dates of October 2011, November 2017 and late 2022, respectively, have polarization [...] Read more.
The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instruments on-board the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 20 (NOAA-20) and Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS-2) spacecraft, with launch dates of October 2011, November 2017 and late 2022, respectively, have polarization sensitivity that affects the at-aperture radiometric Sensor Data Record (SDR) calibration in the Visible Near InfraRed (VNIR) spectral region. These SDRs are used as inputs into the VIIRS atmospheric, land, and water Environmental Data Records (EDRs) that are integral to climate and weather applications. Pre-launch characterization of the VIIRS polarization sensitivity was performed that provides an SDR radiance correction factor to enable high fidelity EDR products for the user community. The pre-launch polarization sensitivity used an external source that consisted of a 100 cm diameter Spherical Integrating Source (SIS) in combination with several sheet polarizers. These sheet polarizers were illuminated by the SIS and viewed by the VIIRS instrument. The sheet was then rotated to measure the variation in the VIIRS response relative to the at-aperture polarization orientation. There are sensor requirements that define the maximum allowed polarization amplitude to be below 2.5–3.0% depending on the band and have an uncertainty in both amplitude and phase of less than 0.5%. The pre-launch data analysis evaluated the VIIRS response through the rotating sheet polarizer to quantify each VNIR bands polarization amplitude, phase, and uncertainty. These parameters were compared with the sensor requirements and used to create on-orbit Look-Up Tables (LUTs) for EDR ground processing. The results of the analysis showed that all bands met the uncertainty requirement of 0.5%, but band M1 failed the 3% polarization amplitude requirement. A root-cause analysis identified the optical element responsible for the non-compliance and has been modified for JPSS-3 and -4 builds. The large polarization amplitudes observed in the NOAA-20 VIIRS build, for bands M1-M4, are greatly reduced for JPSS-2 VIIRS. This improved polarization performance was due to modifications to the band M1-M4 bandpass filters between these sensor builds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Remote Sensing Techniques and Applications Using Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suites)
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27 pages, 7914 KiB  
Article
JPSS-1 VIIRS Prelaunch Reflective Solar Band Testing and Performance
by David Moyer, Amit Angal, Hassan Oudrari, Evan Haas, Qiang Ji, Frank De Luccia and Xiaoxiong Xiong
Remote Sens. 2022, 14(20), 5113; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14205113 - 13 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1262
Abstract
The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instruments on board both the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) and the first Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS-1) spacecraft provides calibrated reflectance, radiance, and brightness temperature products for weather and climate applications. It has 22 bands [...] Read more.
The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instruments on board both the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) and the first Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS-1) spacecraft provides calibrated reflectance, radiance, and brightness temperature products for weather and climate applications. It has 22 bands with resolutions of 375 and 750 m for imaging and moderate bands, respectively, on 4 focal planes covering a spectral range of 400–12,490 nm. The bands are stratified into reflective solar bands (RSBs), thermal emissive bands (TEBs), and the Day/Night Band (DNB). VIIRS has three on-board calibration sectors: the solar diffuser (SD), on-board calibrator blackbody (OBCBB), and space view (SV). The on-board calibrator targets are used to track on-orbit degradation and background offset drift. Extensive prelaunch radiometric testing of the RSB, TEB, and DNB detector’s radiometric sensitivity and noise was performed for both S-NPP and JPSS-1 VIIRS. The combination of prelaunch testing and on-orbit calibrators is used to produce calibrated sensor data record (SDR) reflectance, radiance, and brightness temperatures for use in environmental data record (EDR) products. This paper will discuss the prelaunch radiometric calibration activities for the RSBs only and includes the dynamic range, calibration coefficients, detector noise, and radiometric uncertainties for JPSS-1 VIIRS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Remote Sensing Techniques and Applications Using Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suites)
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22 pages, 4140 KiB  
Article
Calibration Inter-Comparison of MODIS and VIIRS Reflective Solar Bands Using Lunar Observations
by Xiaoxiong Xiong, Junqiang Sun, Amit Angal and Truman Wilson
Remote Sens. 2022, 14(19), 4754; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14194754 - 23 Sep 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1607
Abstract
Multispectral band observations from Terra and Aqua MODIS, launched in December 1999 and May 2002, respectively, and from SNPP and NOAA-20 VIIRS, launched in November 2011 and October 2017, respectively, have continuously enabled a broad range of applications and studies of the Earth [...] Read more.
Multispectral band observations from Terra and Aqua MODIS, launched in December 1999 and May 2002, respectively, and from SNPP and NOAA-20 VIIRS, launched in November 2011 and October 2017, respectively, have continuously enabled a broad range of applications and studies of the Earth system and its changes via a set of geophysical and environmental parameters. The quality of MODIS and VIIRS science and environmental data products relies strongly on the calibration accuracy and stability of individual sensors, as well as their calibration consistency, especially for the data products generated using observations from sensors across different platforms. Both MODIS and VIIRS instruments carry a similar set of on-board calibrators for their on-orbit calibration. Besides, lunar observations are regularly scheduled and implemented in support of their reflective solar bands (RSB) calibration, especially their long-term stability monitoring. In this paper, we provide an overview of MODIS and VIIRS solar and lunar calibration methodologies applied for the RSB on-orbit calibration, and describe the approach developed for their calibration inter-comparisons using lunar observations, including corrections for the effects caused by differences in the relative spectral response and adopted solar spectra between individual sensors. The MODIS and VIIRS calibration inter-comparison results derived from their regularly scheduled lunar observations are presented and discussed, including associated uncertainties and a comparison with those derived using the Earth-view targets. Also discussed are remaining challenges in lunar calibration and inter-comparison for the Earth-observing sensors, as well as on-going efforts for future improvements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Remote Sensing Techniques and Applications Using Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suites)
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20 pages, 22478 KiB  
Article
Ten Years of VIIRS On-Orbit Geolocation Calibration and Performance
by Guoqing Lin, Robert E. Wolfe, Ping Zhang, John J. Dellomo and Bin Tan
Remote Sens. 2022, 14(17), 4212; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14174212 - 26 Aug 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1486
Abstract
The first innovative Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) sensor aboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) satellite has been in operation for 10 years since its launch on 28 October 2011. The second VIIRS sensor aboard the first Join Polar Satellite System [...] Read more.
The first innovative Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) sensor aboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) satellite has been in operation for 10 years since its launch on 28 October 2011. The second VIIRS sensor aboard the first Join Polar Satellite System (JPSS-1) satellite has been in operation for 4 years since its launch on 18 November 2017, which became NOAA-20. Well-geolocated and radiometrically calibrated Level-1 sensor data records (SDRs) from VIIRS are crucial to numerical weather prediction (NWP) and Level-2+ environmental data record (EDR) algorithms and products. The high quality of Level-2+ EDRs is a requirement for the continuity of NASA Earth science data records (ESDRs) and climate data records (CDRs), one of the two objectives of the SNPP mission and one of the three elements in the JPSS mission objective. The other objective of the SNPP mission is risk reduction for the follow-on JPSS missions. This paper summarizes the on-orbit geolocation calibration and validation (Cal/Val) activities for both VIIRS sensors onboard SNPP and NOAA-20 in the past 10 years. These activities include nominal geolocation Cal/Val activities, risk reduction activities, and improvements for the on-orbit VIIRS sensor operations. After these activities, sub-pixel geolocation accuracy is achieved. Nadir equivalent geolocation uncertainty is generally within 75 m (1-σ), or 20% imagery band pixels, in either the along-scan or along-track direction for both SNPP and NOAA-20 VIIRS sensors. The worst 16-day measured geolocation errors (radial, 3-σ) are 280 m and 267 m, respectively, in the latest SNPP and NOAA-20 VIIRS data collections, which are better than the required accuracy of 375 m (radial, 3-σ). The risk reduction activities also improved VIIRS builds for JPSS-3 and JPSS-4 satellites, and provide lessons learned for other VIIRS-like sensor builds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Remote Sensing Techniques and Applications Using Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suites)
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15 pages, 10161 KiB  
Article
An Assessment of SNPP and NOAA20 VIIRS RSB Calibration Performance in NASA SIPS Reprocessed Collection-2 L1B Data Products
by Aisheng Wu, Xiaoxiong Xiong, Rajendra Bhatt, Conor Haney, David R. Doelling, Amit Angal and Qiaozhen Mu
Remote Sens. 2022, 14(17), 4134; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14174134 - 23 Aug 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1484
Abstract
Two VIIRS sensors onboard the SNPP and NOAA20 satellites have been successfully operating for over 10 and 4 years, respectively, providing the worldwide user community with high-quality imagery and radiometric measurements of the land, atmosphere, cryosphere, and oceans. This study provides a temporal [...] Read more.
Two VIIRS sensors onboard the SNPP and NOAA20 satellites have been successfully operating for over 10 and 4 years, respectively, providing the worldwide user community with high-quality imagery and radiometric measurements of the land, atmosphere, cryosphere, and oceans. This study provides a temporal radiometric stability and calibration consistency assessment of the SNPP and NOAA20 VIIRS reflective solar bands using the latest NASA SIPS C2 L1B products. Several independent vicarious approaches are used to examine the stability of SNPP VIIRS and consistency of the at-sensor reflectance between the two VIIRS instruments. These approaches include observations from simultaneous nadir overpasses, the Libya-4 desert and Dome C snow/ice sites, and deep convective clouds. The impact of existing band spectral differences on the reflectance measurements is accounted for utilizing scene-specific hyperspectral observations provided by the SCIAMACHY sensor onboard the ENVISAT platform. Results indicate that both SNPP and NOAA20 VIIRS reflectances are stable within 1% over their mission periods for all bands, except for a few bands in the visible range from SNPP VIIRS that show more upward drifts at high radiances. NOAA20 VIIRS reflectances are systematically lower than SNPP by 2 to 4% for most bands, with the exception of few short wavelength bands where it is seen to be up to 7%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Remote Sensing Techniques and Applications Using Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suites)
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16 pages, 1999 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of SNPP and NOAA-20 VIIRS Datasets Using RadCalNet and Landsat 8/OLI Data
by Xin Jing, Sirish Uprety, Tung-Chang Liu, Bin Zhang and Xi Shao
Remote Sens. 2022, 14(16), 3913; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14163913 - 12 Aug 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1305
Abstract
In this study, we used RVUS data from RadCalNet as a benchmark to verify the radiometric accuracy and stability of operational and reprocessed SNPP/VIIRS data and the accuracy of NOAA-20/VIIRS data, as well as to assess the efficiency of the SNPP/VIIRS reprocessing algorithm. [...] Read more.
In this study, we used RVUS data from RadCalNet as a benchmark to verify the radiometric accuracy and stability of operational and reprocessed SNPP/VIIRS data and the accuracy of NOAA-20/VIIRS data, as well as to assess the efficiency of the SNPP/VIIRS reprocessing algorithm. In addition, to remove the uncertainty of the RVUS site itself, we used Landsat 8/OLI as another benchmark with which to validate the accuracy and stability of VIIRS data through the RUVS site. The radiometric biases of the operational and reprocessed SNPP VIIRS bands were within ±4% and ±2%, respectively, as compared with the RUVS site and OLI, except for the M10 and M11 bands. In particular, the biases of the M5 and M7 bands were reduced by ~2% in this study. NOAA-20 VIIRS, on the other hand, was consistently lower than SNPP by ~2 to ~4% for all the bands. For the equivalent bands, the drift differences between operational and reprocessed SNPP/VIIRS and OLI were no larger than 0.24%/year and 0.1%/year, respectively. The reprocessing algorithm of SNPP VIIRS efficiently improved the radiometric accuracy and stability of the SNPP/VIIRS dataset to meet its specifications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Remote Sensing Techniques and Applications Using Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suites)
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24 pages, 748 KiB  
Article
An Overall Assessment of JPSS-3 VIIRS Radiometric Performance Based on Pre-Launch Testing
by Jeff McIntire, Xiaoxiong Xiong, James J. Butler, Amit Angal, David Moyer, Qiang Ji, Thomas Schwarting, Daniel Link and Chengbo Sun
Remote Sens. 2022, 14(9), 1999; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14091999 - 21 Apr 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1235
Abstract
Satellite imagery and data are playing an increasingly important role in scientific studies of the Earth and its climate. The scientific community has been demanding ever-increasing capabilities and accuracy from the data provided by these satellites. One key instrument on board a series [...] Read more.
Satellite imagery and data are playing an increasingly important role in scientific studies of the Earth and its climate. The scientific community has been demanding ever-increasing capabilities and accuracy from the data provided by these satellites. One key instrument on board a series of satellite platforms is the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), which provides high-quality data of the Earth from low Earth orbit covering the visible to long-wave infrared parts of the spectrum. The fourth build in the series, set to be launched on the Joint Polar-orbiting Satellite System 3 (JPSS-3) platform, has recently completed its main ground calibration program and is set to be integrated into the satellite bus in the near future. This calibration program covered a comprehensive series of performance metrics designed to demonstrate the quality of the science data and ensure the instrument can maintain its calibration successfully once on-orbit. The subject of this work covers the radiometric calibration metrics including dynamic range, signal-to-noise ratio/noise equivalent differential temperature (SNR/NEdT), polarization sensitivity, scattered light response, relative spectral response, response versus scan angle, and uniformity, as well as uncertainties; all key metrics met or exceeded their design requirements with some minor exceptions. Comparisons to previous builds will also be provided. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Remote Sensing Techniques and Applications Using Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suites)
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15 pages, 7738 KiB  
Article
SNPP VIIRS Day Night Band: Ten Years of On-Orbit Calibration and Performance
by Hongda Chen, Chengbo Sun, Xiaoxiong Xiong, Gal Sarid and Junqiang Sun
Remote Sens. 2021, 13(20), 4179; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13204179 - 19 Oct 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1935
Abstract
Aboard the polar-orbiting SNPP satellite, the VIIRS instrument has been in operation since launch in October 2011. It is a visible and infrared radiometer with a unique panchromatic channel capability designated as a day-night band (DNB). This channel covers wavelengths from 0.5 to [...] Read more.
Aboard the polar-orbiting SNPP satellite, the VIIRS instrument has been in operation since launch in October 2011. It is a visible and infrared radiometer with a unique panchromatic channel capability designated as a day-night band (DNB). This channel covers wavelengths from 0.5 to 0.9 µm and is designed with a near-constant spatial resolution for Earth observations 24 h a day. The DNB operates at 3 gain stages (low, middle, and high) to cover a large dynamic range. An onboard solar diffuser (SD) is used for calibration in the low gain stage, and to enable the derivation of gain ratios between the different stages. In this paper, we present the SNPP VIIRS DNB calibration performed by the NASA VIIRS characterization support team (VCST). The DNB calibration algorithms are described to generate the calibration coefficient look up tables (LUTs) for the latest NASA Level 1B Collection 2 products. We provide an evaluation of DNB on-orbit calibration performance. This activity supports the NASA Earth science community by delivering consistent VIIRS sensor data products via the Land Science Investigator-led Processing Systems, including the SD degradation applied for DNB calibrations in detector gain and gain ratio trending. The DNB stray light contamination and its correction are highlighted. Performance validations are presented using comparisons to the calibration methods employed by NOAA’s operational Interface Data Processing Segment. Further work on stray light corrections is also discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Remote Sensing Techniques and Applications Using Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suites)
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19 pages, 5271 KiB  
Article
S-NPP VIIRS Thermal Emissive Bands 10-Year On-Orbit Calibration and Performance
by Carlos L. Pérez Díaz, Xiaoxiong Xiong, Yonghong Li and Kwofu Chiang
Remote Sens. 2021, 13(19), 3917; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13193917 - 30 Sep 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1942
Abstract
The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership Program (S-NPP) satellite, launched in late 2011, has reached the decade landmark under successful operations. VIIRS has 22 spectral bands, 7 of which are thermal emissive bands (TEB) that cover [...] Read more.
The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership Program (S-NPP) satellite, launched in late 2011, has reached the decade landmark under successful operations. VIIRS has 22 spectral bands, 7 of which are thermal emissive bands (TEB) that cover the 3.70 to 11.84 μm wavelength range. Over the years, VIIRS TEB observations have been used to generate several data products (e.g., surface/cloud/atmospheric temperatures, cloud top altitude, and water vapor properties). The VIIRS TEB calibration uses a quadratic algorithm and is referenced to an on-board blackbody with temperature measurements traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology standard. This manuscript provides an overview of the VIIRS instrument operations and TEB calibration activities and algorithms used in the level 1B data and describes the TEB on-orbit performance for S-NPP VIIRS. The 10-year on-orbit performance of the S-NPP VIIRS TEB has generally been stable, and the degradations in the S-NPP TEB detector responses are minor after a decade in orbit. The noise characterization performance repeatedly meets the design requirements for all TEB detectors as well. On-orbit changes in the TEB response-versus-scan-angle, based on pitch maneuver observations, have been demonstrated to be extremely small. Moreover, multiple time series over select ground targets have shown that the sensor’s on-orbit performance is quite stable. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Remote Sensing Techniques and Applications Using Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suites)
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27 pages, 7214 KiB  
Article
Ten Years of SNPP VIIRS Reflective Solar Bands On-Orbit Calibration and Performance
by Junqiang Sun, Xiaoxiong Xiong, Ning Lei, Sherry Li, Kevin Twedt and Amit Angal
Remote Sens. 2021, 13(15), 2944; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13152944 - 27 Jul 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1907
Abstract
The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) has successfully operated on-orbit for nearly ten years since its launch in October 2011, continuously making global observations and improving studies of changes in the Earth’s climate and environment. [...] Read more.
The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) has successfully operated on-orbit for nearly ten years since its launch in October 2011, continuously making global observations and improving studies of changes in the Earth’s climate and environment. VIIRS has 22 spectral bands, among which 14 are reflective solar bands (RSBs) covering a spectral range from 0.41 to 2.25 μm. The SNPP VIIRS RSBs are primarily calibrated by the onboard solar diffuser (SD), with its on-orbit degradation tracked by an onboard SD stability monitor (SDSM). The near-monthly scheduled lunar observations, together with the sensor responses over stable ground targets, have contributed to the sensor’s mission-long on-orbit calibration and characterization. Numerous improvements have been made in the RSB calibration methodology since SNPP VIIRS was launched, and the RSB calibration has reached a mature stage after almost ten years of on-orbit operation. SNPP is a joint NASA/NOAA mission and there are two teams, the NASA VIIRS Calibration Support Team (VCST) and the NOAA VIIRS Sensor Data Record Team, which are dedicated to SNPP VIIRS on-orbit calibration. In this paper, we focus on the calibration performed by the NASA VCST. The SNPP VIIRS RSB calibration methodologies used to produce the calibration coefficient look up tables for the latest NASA Level 1B Collection 2 products are reviewed and the calibration improvements incorporated in this collection are described. Recent calibration changes include the removal of image striping caused by non-uniform degradation of the SD, improvements to the method for combining lunar and SD data, mitigation of the effects due a recent anomaly in the SD measurements, estimation of the SD degradation beyond 935 nm, and fitting strategy improvements for look-up table delivery. Overall, the SNPP VIIRS RSBs have performed well since its launch and continue to meet design specifications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Remote Sensing Techniques and Applications Using Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suites)
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12 pages, 4659 KiB  
Article
S-NPP VIIRS Day Night Band On-Board Solar Diffuser Calibration Validation Using the Scheduled Lunar Collections
by Taeyoung Choi and Changyong Cao
Remote Sens. 2021, 13(6), 1093; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13061093 - 13 Mar 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2309
Abstract
Similar to the Reflective Solar Band (RSB) calibration, Suomi-National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on-board calibration of Day Night Band (DNB) is based on the Solar Diffuser (SD) observations in the Low Gain State (LGS). DNB has a broad [...] Read more.
Similar to the Reflective Solar Band (RSB) calibration, Suomi-National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on-board calibration of Day Night Band (DNB) is based on the Solar Diffuser (SD) observations in the Low Gain State (LGS). DNB has a broad spectral response covering a wavelength range roughly from 500 nm to 900 nm with a large dynamic range from three different gain states called High Gain State (HGS), Mid Gain State (MGS), and LGS. The calibration of MGS and HGS is also dependent on the LGS gain estimation with the gain ratios for each gain state. Over the lifetime of S-NPP VIIRS operations, the LGS gains have been derived from the on-board SD observations since its launch in October 2011. In this study, the lifetime LGS gains are validated by the lunar calibration coefficients (defined as F-factors) using a lunar irradiance model called Global Space-based Inter-Calibration System (GSICS) Implementation of RObotic Lunar Observatory (ROLO) (GIRO). Using the moon as an independent on-orbit calibration source, the S-NPP VIIRS DNB on-board SD based radiometric calibration is validated by the lunar F-factors within two percent of the lunar F-factors in terms of the standard deviation in the long-term trends over nine years of the S-NPP VIIRS operation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Remote Sensing Techniques and Applications Using Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suites)
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35 pages, 10227 KiB  
Article
Mission-Long Recalibrated Science Quality Suomi NPP VIIRS Radiometric Dataset Using Advanced Algorithms for Time Series Studies
by Changyong Cao, Bin Zhang, Xi Shao, Wenhui Wang, Sirish Uprety, Taeyoung Choi, Slawomir Blonski, Yalong Gu, Yan Bai, Lin Lin and Satya Kalluri
Remote Sens. 2021, 13(6), 1075; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13061075 - 12 Mar 2021
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 6758
Abstract
Suomi NPP has been successfully operating since its launch on 28 October 2011. As one of the major payloads, along with microwave and infrared sounders (Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS), Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS)), and ozone mapping/profiling (OMPS) instruments, the Visible Infrared Imaging [...] Read more.
Suomi NPP has been successfully operating since its launch on 28 October 2011. As one of the major payloads, along with microwave and infrared sounders (Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS), Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS)), and ozone mapping/profiling (OMPS) instruments, the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) has performed for well beyond its mission design life. Its data have been used for a variety of applications for nearly 30 environmental data products, including global imagery twice daily with 375 and 750 m resolutions, clouds, aerosol, cryosphere, ocean color and sea-surface temperature, a number of land products (vegetation, land-cover, fire and others), and geophysical and social economic studies with nightlights. During the early days of VIIRS operational calibration and data production, there were inconsistencies in both algorithms and calibration inputs, for several reasons. While these inconsistencies have less impact on nowcasting and near real-time applications, they introduce challenges for time series analysis due to calibration artifacts. To address this issue, we developed a comprehensive algorithm, and recalibrated and reprocessed the Suomi NPP VIIRS radiometric data that have been produced since the launch. In the recalibration, we resolved inconsistencies in the processing algorithms, terrain correction, straylight correction, and anomalies in the thermal bands. To improve the stability of the reflective solar bands, we developed a Kalman filtering model to incorporate onboard solar, lunar, desert site, inter-satellite calibration, and a deep convective cloud calibration methodology. We further developed and implemented the Solar Diffuser Surface Roughness Rayleigh Scattering model to account for the sensor responsivity degradation in the near infrared bands. The recalibrated dataset was validated using vicarious sites and alternative methods, and compared with independent processing from other organizations. The recalibrated radiometric dataset (namely, the level 1b or sensor data records) also incorporates a bias correction for the reflective solar bands, which not only addresses known calibration biases, but also allows alternative calibrations to be applied if so desired. The recalibrated data have been proven to be of high quality, with much improved stability (better than 0.3%) and accuracy (by up to 2%). The recalibrated radiance data are now available from 2012 to 2020 for users and will eventually be archived on the NOAA CLASS database. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Remote Sensing Techniques and Applications Using Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suites)
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16 pages, 4317 KiB  
Article
NOAA-20 and S-NPP VIIRS Thermal Emissive Bands On-Orbit Calibration Algorithm Update and Long-Term Performance Inter-Comparison
by Wenhui Wang and Changyong Cao
Remote Sens. 2021, 13(3), 448; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13030448 - 27 Jan 2021
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 2869
Abstract
The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on board the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-20 (NOAA-20) and the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership Program (S-NPP) satellites were launched in late 2017 and 2011, respectively. This paper presents a recent update in the VIIRS thermal [...] Read more.
The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on board the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-20 (NOAA-20) and the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership Program (S-NPP) satellites were launched in late 2017 and 2011, respectively. This paper presents a recent update in the VIIRS thermal emissive bands (TEB) on-orbit calibration algorithm and inter-compares long-term instrument and TEB sensor data records (SDR) performances of the two VIIRS, to support user communities. The VIIRS TEB calibration algorithm was improved to mitigate calibration biases during the blackbody warm-up/cool-down (WUCD) events. Four WUCD bias correction methods were implemented in the NOAA operational processing in 2019: (1) the Nominal-F method, (2) the WUCD-C method, (3) the Ltrace method, and (4) the Ltrace-2 method. Our evaluation results indicate that the on-orbit performances of the two VIIRS instruments have been generally stable and comparable with each other, except that NOAA-20 VIIRS blackbody and instrument temperatures are lower than those of the S-NPP VIIRS. The degradations in the S-NPP TEB detector responsivities remain small after 9 years on-orbit. NOAA-20 detector responsivities have been generally stable after the longwave infrared degradation during its early mission was resolved by the mid-mission outgassing. NOAA-20 and S-NPP VIIRS TEB SDRs agree with co-located Cross-track Infrared Sounder observations, with daily averaged biases within 0.1 K at nadir. After the implementation of operational WUCD bias correction, residual TEB WUCD biases are similar for NOAA-20 and S-NPP, with daily averaged biases ~0.01 K in all bands. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Remote Sensing Techniques and Applications Using Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suites)
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28 pages, 10622 KiB  
Article
Assessment of BRDF Impact on VIIRS DNB from Observed Top-of-Atmosphere Reflectance over Dome C in Nighttime
by Jinjin Li, Shi Qiu, Yu Zhang, Benyong Yang, Caixia Gao, Yonggang Qian, Yaokai Liu and Yongguang Zhao
Remote Sens. 2021, 13(2), 301; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13020301 - 16 Jan 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2772
Abstract
The Day–Night Band (DNB) imaging sensor of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) adds nighttime monitoring capability to the Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 20 weather satellite launched in 2011 and 2017, respectively. Nighttime visible imagery has [...] Read more.
The Day–Night Band (DNB) imaging sensor of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) adds nighttime monitoring capability to the Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 20 weather satellite launched in 2011 and 2017, respectively. Nighttime visible imagery has already found diverse applications, but image quality is often unsatisfactory. In this study, variations in observed top-of-atmosphere (TOA) reflectance were examined in terms of nighttime bidirectional effects. The Antarctica Dome C ground site was selected due to high uniformity. First, variation of reflectance was characterized in terms of viewing zenith angle, lunar zenith angle, and relative lunar azimuth angle, using DNB data from 2012 to 2020 and Miller–Turner 2009 simulations. Variations in reflectance were observed to be strongly anisotropic, suggesting the presence of bidirectional effects. Then, based on this finding, three popular bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) models were evaluated for effectiveness in correcting for these effects on the nighttime images. The observed radiance of VIIRS DNB was compared with the simulated radiance respectively based on the three BRDF models under the same geometry. Compared with the RossThick-LiSparseReciprocal (RossLi) BRDF model and Hudson model, the Warren model has a higher correlation coefficient (0.9899–0.9945) and a lower root-mean-square-error (0.0383–0.0487). Moreover, the RossLi BRDF model and Hudson model may have similar effects in the description of the nighttime TOA over Dome C. These findings are potentially useful to evaluate the radiometric calibration stability and consistency of nighttime satellite sensors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Remote Sensing Techniques and Applications Using Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suites)
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