Heidelberg 2006 – scientific programme

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UP: Umweltphysik

UP 11: Poster: Atmosph
ärische Aerosole

UP 11.3: Poster

Tuesday, March 14, 2006, 14:00–16:00, C

Retrieval of Aerosol Properties over bright reflecting desert regions from top of atmosphere radiance — •Tilman Dinter, W. von Hoyningen-Huene, and J.P. Burrows — IUP, Universität Bremen

The effect of aerosols on climate can only be estimated with confidence if the high spatial and temporal heterogeneity of the aerosol properties is monitored. In particular retrieving aerosol properties from satellite remote sensing over a bright surface is a challenging problem in the research of atmospheric and land applications. An approach to retrieve aerosol properties over brighter surfaces such as arid and semiarid areas over the Sahara Desert is proposed and investigated. The consideration of increased surface reflectance in lookup tables (LUT) and the retrieval scheme enables a modification of the BEAR-approach (Bremen AErosol Retrieval) [c.f. von Hoyningen-Huene et al., 2003] to extend its application to brighter regions. Examples of aerosol optical thickness (AOT) derived using the BEAR-algorithm over the Sahara Desert reveal various dust sources, which are important contributors to airborne dust transported over long distances. The AOT and surface reflectance are determined simultaneously in the algorithm using LUT to match satellite observed spectral top of atmosphere radiances, measured by the Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS), are used.