Optical Model of Atmospheric Aerosols in Russian Siberia for Correction of Satellite Data

Atmospheric components (aerosols and molecules) scatter and absorb solar radiation. They significantly influence the contrast and apparent resolution of satellite images of the Earth’s surface taken in the visible and near infrared spectral channels. For accurate interpretation of satellite signals, remote sensing data have to be corrected for atmospheric effects. This requires knowledge of atmospheric spectral optical characteristics. Aerosol components of the atmosphere vary in space and time. Accordingly to recent investigations, there can be a significant error in interpretation of optical satellite images when the spectral behavior of aerosol optical depth used in atmospheric correction procedures does not correspond to reality. In this paper, an aerosol optical model that examines spectral optical depth and phase function for Siberia is presented. It is based on experimental measurements of the intensity of direct solar radiation, and on the microphysical parameters of aerosol submicron fractions. The model provides recent information on spectral behavior of aerosol optical parameters in Siberia and can be used with software for atmospheric correction of optical satellite data over Siberia forest areas.