Improvements to Lunar BRDF-Corrected Nighttime Satellite Imagery: Uses and Applications

• Published in: NASA Center for AeroSpace Information (CASI). Misc. Resources
• Main Authors: Cole, Tony A, Molthan, Andrew L, Schultz, Lori A, Roman, Miguel O, Wanik, David W
• Format: Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: Hampton NASA/Langley Research Center 12.12.2016
• Subjects: Algorithms; Distribution functions; Earth surface; Fishing; Light sources; Lunar surface; Meteorological satellites; Moon; Night; Radiance; Reflectance; Satellite imagery; Solar radiation; Space flight

Observations made by the VIIRS day/night band (DNB) provide daily, nighttime measurements to monitor Earth surface processes.However, these observations are impacted by variations in reflected solar radiation on the moon's surface. As the moon transitions from new to full phase, increasing radiance is reflected to the Earth's surface and contributes additional reflected moonlight from clouds and land surface, in addition to emissions from other light sources observed by the DNB. The introduction of a bi-directional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) algorithm serves to remove these lunar variations and normalize observed radiances. Provided by the Terrestrial Information Systems Laboratory at Goddard Space Flight Center, a 1 km gridded lunar BRDF-corrected DNB product and VIIRS cloud mask can be used for a multitude of nighttime applications without influence from the moon. Such applications include the detection of power outages following severe weather events using pre-and post-event DNB imagery, as well as the identification of boat features to curtail illegal fishing practices. This presentation will provide context on the importance of the lunar BRDF correction algorithm and explore the aforementioned uses of this improved DNB product for applied science applications.