Comparing MODIS and AERONET aerosol optical depth over China

• Published in: International Journal of Remote Sensing
• Main Authors: Li, Bengang, Yuan, Huishi, Feng, Nan, Tao, Shu
• Other Authors: Li, BG (reprint author), Peking Univ, MOE Lab Earth Surface Proc, Coll Urban & Environm Sci, Beijing 100871, Peoples R China., Peking Univ, MOE Lab Earth Surface Proc, Coll Urban & Environm Sci, Beijing 100871, Peoples R China.
• Format: Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 国际遥感杂志 2009
• Subjects: RESOLUTION IMAGING SPECTRORADIOMETER; VARIABILITY; VALIDATION; PRODUCTS; SYSTEM; LAND; Aerosol Robotic Network
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11897/161153; https://doi.org/10.1080/01431160903111069

The newest daily and monthly Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aerosol optical depths (AOD or tau) dataset over land, C005, retrieved using the second-generation operational algorithm, were evaluated using a ground-based Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) dataset from 13 sites over China. The dataset covers the period 2003-2006. Daily MODIS C005 AODs over China were found to have a positive bias with a relationship of tau(MODIS) = 0.135 + 1.022 tau(AERONET), for which the offset is larger than reported global validation results. However, the relationship tau(MODIS) = 0.021 + 0.929 tau(AERONET) showed that monthly MODIS C005 AODs were an overestimation for small AOD and underestimation for high AOD. Both daily and monthly MODIS AOD retrievals showed poor performance in extreme aerosol conditions, e. g. under dust events or heavy urban/industrial haze. Nevertheless, both daily and monthly MODIS C005 AOD datasets can be used for investigation of aerosol spatial distribution and temporal variation over China. Remote Sensing Imaging Science & Photographic Technology SCI(E) EI 5 ARTICLE 24 6519-6529 30