Modelling full-colour images of Earth: simulation of radiation brightness field of Earth’s atmosphere and underlying surface

ABSTRACT This article is dedicated to the problem of realistic colour rendering of space object images using the tools of computer graphics. In the form of a short essay, the authors describe the essence, sources and functionality of modern graphics applications. Particular attention is paid to the application of modern graphics in space science. The specific purpose of the study is the use of computer graphics in the field of remote sensing of the Earth’s surface. This article describes a method for synthesizing images to develop realistic 3D models of colour Earth images in the visible spectral range, observed from geostationary orbits. The method is based on the improved model of atmospheric radiation for arbitrary sighting conditions in an inhomogeneous spherical atmosphere. Physical models of horizontally inhomogeneous distributions of atmospheric density, temperature and albedo of the Earth were improved. All calculations were performed in accordance with the model of molecular scattering of radiation in a spherical atmosphere, taking into account sunlight forward-scattering and reflection from the planet’s surface. This allows us to obtain images of the Earth in its various phases, observed from arbitrary heights. The obtained theoretical colour images of the Earth were compared with black and white images from modern geostationary satellites.