WindCam and MSPI: two cloud and aerosol instrument concepts derived from Terra/MISR heritage

David J. Diner; Michael Mischna; Russell A. Chipman; Ab Davis; Brian Cairns; Roger Davies; Ralph A. Kahn; Jan-Peter Muller; Omar Torres

doi:10.1117/12.795146

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20 August 2008 WindCam and MSPI: two cloud and aerosol instrument concepts derived from Terra/MISR heritage

David J. Diner, Michael Mischna, Russell A. Chipman, Ab Davis, Brian Cairns, Roger Davies, Ralph A. Kahn, Jan-Peter Muller, Omar Torres

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Proceedings Volume 7081, Earth Observing Systems XIII; 70810T (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.795146
Event: Optical Engineering + Applications, 2008, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) has been acquiring global cloud and aerosol data from polar orbit since February 2000. MISR acquires moderately high-resolution imagery at nine view angles from nadir to 70.5°, in four visible/near-infrared spectral bands. Stereoscopic parallax, time lapse among the nine views, and the variation of radiance with angle and wavelength enable retrieval of geometric cloud and aerosol plume heights, height-resolved cloud-tracked winds, and aerosol optical depth and particle property information. Two instrument concepts based upon MISR heritage are in development. The Cloud Motion Vector Camera, or WindCam, is a simplified version comprised of a lightweight, compact, wide-angle camera to acquire multiangle stereo imagery at a single visible wavelength. A constellation of three WindCam instruments in polar Earth orbit would obtain height-resolved cloud-motion winds with daily global coverage, making it a low-cost complement to a spaceborne lidar wind measurement system. The Multiangle SpectroPolarimetric Imager (MSPI) is aimed at aerosol and cloud microphysical properties, and is a candidate for the National Research Council Decadal Survey's Aerosol-Cloud-Ecosystem (ACE) mission. MSPI combines the capabilities of MISR with those of other aerosol sensors, extending the spectral coverage to the ultraviolet and shortwave infrared and incorporating high-accuracy polarimetric imaging. Based on requirements for the nonimaging Aerosol Polarimeter Sensor on NASA's Glory mission, a degree of linear polarization uncertainty of 0.5% is specified within a subset of the MSPI bands. We are developing a polarization imaging approach using photoelastic modulators (PEMs) to accomplish this objective.

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David J. Diner, Michael Mischna, Russell A. Chipman, Ab Davis, Brian Cairns, Roger Davies, Ralph A. Kahn, Jan-Peter Muller, and Omar Torres "WindCam and MSPI: two cloud and aerosol instrument concepts derived from Terra/MISR heritage", Proc. SPIE 7081, Earth Observing Systems XIII, 70810T (20 August 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.795146

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