Aerosol optical depth retrieval from the EarthCARE Multi-Spectral Imager: the M-AOT product

Abstract. The Earth Explorer mission Clouds, Aerosols and Radiation (EarthCARE) will not only provide profile information on aerosols but also deliver a horizontal context to it through measurements by its Multi-Spectral Imager (MSI). columnar aerosol product relying these passive signals is called M-AOT (MSI-Aerosol Optical Thickness). Its main parameters are optical thickness (AOT) at 670 nm over ocean valid land pixels 865 ocean. Here, the algorithm assumptions behind presented. Further, first examples of given based applying simulated EarthCARE test data Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Level-1 data. Comparisons input fields used for simulations, official MODIS product, AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) Maritime Aerosol Network (MAN) show an overall reasonable agreement. Over ocean, correlations 0.98 (simulated scenes), 0.96 (compared MYD04) 0.9 MAN). land, 0.62 0.87 0.77 AERONET). A concluding discussion focus future improvements that necessary envisioned enhance product.