Assessing the VIIRS RSB calibration stability using deep convective clouds

This study investigates the VIIRS reflective solar bands (RSB) calibration stability using the Deep Convective Clouds (DCC) technique. DCC time series from March 2012 to August 2014 were developed for bands M1-M5 and M7. The mean and mode of the monthly probability distribution functions of DCC reflectance are used as two important indices in using DCC for calibration. The DCC mode time series, which are more stable than the mean time series, were chosen for calibration stability monitoring for individual bands. For bands M5 and M7, our results indicate that the operational radiometric calibration stabilities (1-sigma) are 0.3% and 0.4%, respectively, with variations (maximum – minimum) less than 1.3%. The stabilities of bands M1-M4 are 0.5% - 0.7%, with variations of 2% -3.5%. Larger fluctuations in bands M1-M3 monthly DCC reflectance were observed since early 2014, consistent with F-factor trend changes during this period. The DCC mean band ratio time series were used for inter-channel relative calibration stability monitoring. M1/M4, M2/M4, M3/M4, and M5/M7 time series reveal distinct band ratio patterns in 2013 compared to those in 2012. The DCC time series were also compared with the VIIRS validation site time series and VIIRS-MODIS simultaneous nadir overpass time series. Comparison results further support that the DCC time series are capable to detect sub-percent calibration changes in the visible and near-infrared spectrum.

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