A new method for improving the MODIS aerosol retrieval over coastal water

It is important to retrieve aerosol optical properties over coastal region not only for study of oceanic productivity but also for study of climate because coastal region is highly influenced by neighboring aerosol source regions. The present operational Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aerosol retrieval algorithm works reasonably well over clear ocean areas but fails to give any results over brighter coastal waters. This is because: the turbid waters are not dark for the two aerosol retrieval channels centered near 0.553ìm, 0.646ìm. We have developed an aerosol retrieval algorithm for remote sensing of aerosol properties over turbid coastal water. In this algorithm, channels centered near 0.86,1.24,1.64 and 2.13ìm are used. If necessary, the reflectance of 0.86ìm will be corrected. The proposed algorithm is applicable for MODIS data observed over turbid coastal water in the southeast of China. The retrieval results agree quite well with the measurements obtained with sun photometers, and it can be easily used in the present operational aerosol retrieval algorithm. As a result, many valuable aerosol data can be obtained.