Using MODIS data to retrieve microphysical properties of fog in yangtze river delta

Abstract

The properties of the fog layer, such as the vertical thickness, optical thickness and the visibility, are of significant importance in the aspect of researching the fog dissipation and detection. These parameters have been successfully retrieved in this paper, mainly using MODIS data source in Yangtze River Delta, on the basis of the radiation transfer theory and reasonably simplifying the radiation transfer model. Additionally, the retrieval results have been applied to extract the fog area more precisely, and the updated fog area was obtained. This retrieving method proved valid and has its potential to advance the monitoring technology of remote sensing fog in the future. © 2008 IEEE.