Atmospheric correction algorithms intended for the assessment of atmospheric pollution using satellite remote sensing

Abstract

This paper presents a novel methodology that will be used to assess the effectiveness of the existing atmospheric correction methods; to assist the development of a novel image-based atmospheric correction method; and finally to assess the atmospheric pollution based on the determined aerosol optical thickness found from the atmospheric correction. One of the main goals of this project is to build a system capable of retrieving air quality parameters on the basis of satellite observations. To do so, the project will employ both image and ground-based ancillary observations. Ground observations during the satellite overpass consists of the use of field spectro-radiometers to retrieve the ground reflectance values; sun-photometers to measure the aerosol optical thickness; meteorological and air pollution data; and finally locational data (GPS measurements). Our goal is to provide the tools to “monitor” the aerosol optical depth (AOD) measured from space on systematic basis. The determined aerosol optical thickness obtained from the atmospheric path radiance component and the visibility data acquired during the satellite overpass show a good agreement as a part of the preliminary results found in this project.