Development of the global multispectral imager thermal emissive FCDRs

Abstract

Generation of high-quality Climate Data Records (CDRs) is critically important for more reliable analysis of global climate change. Since each spaceborne sensor has limited life cycle, integration of remote-sensing measurements from different sensors is necessary. Differences in spectral response and spatial specification of sensors from different missions, as well as variations in calibration and retrieval algorithms, make it complicated to generate long-term consistent CDRs, especially the Fundamental Climate Data Records (FCDRs), i.e., calibrated radiance at top of atmosphere (TOA), which are essential for producing Thematic Climate Data Records (TCDRs) with consistent algorithms. This chapter presents the band mapping approach and results of FCDR generation for the thermal infrared bands of AVHRR and MODIS. Band transfer equations among different versions of AVHRR and MODIS are identified. Error bounds of band mapping are also analyzed statistically using global datasets.