Role of Aerosol Absorption in Satellite Sensor Calibration

The importance of aerosol absorption in satellite sensor vicarious calibration and/or satellite measurement of physical parameters is reiterated in a sensitivity study performed using a radiative transfer model, with field-measured data as input. Broadband shortwave surface fluxes need to be measured according to new protocols, described herein, to infer atmospheric absorption to improve calibration accuracy to within the plusmn2% stated goal of next-generation sensors such as Visible/Infrared Imager/Radiometer Suite.