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Satellite remote sensing of aerosol is largely conducted at moderate or coarse spatial resolution around 1–10 km. Nevertheless, at urban areas with high human activity, aerosol can originate from complex emission sources and may also vary strongly in space. Therefore, aerosol characterization at fine spatial resolution is essential for air quality study and assessment of anthropogenic pollution as well as climate effects. However, space‐borne instruments with high spatial resolution are usually limited in swath width or spectral coverage which result in lowering information content required for aerosol and surface retrieval. Based on the Generalized Retrieval of Atmosphere and Surface Properties (GRASP) algorithm, we propose a hybrid approach by combining fine and coarse spatial resolution measurements to retrieve aerosol and surface properties simulataneously at fine spatial resolution. The instruments with coarse spatial resolution and high revisting time can provide advanced aerosol characterization. At the same time, the instruments with fine spatial resolution are sensitive to spatial variability of aerosol nearby sources. In this study, the GRASP/Hybrid approach is demonstrated and tested based on the European Space Agency Sentinel‐5p/TROPOMI together with the Italian Space Agency PRISMA satellite data. Specifically, the detailed aerosol microphysical properties from Sentinel‐5p/TROPOMI 10 km retrievals are used as a priori information for PRISMA to derive aerosol loading and surface properties at 100 meter (m) spatial resolution. The PRISMA 100 m aerosol and surface retrieval based on the developed GRASP/Hybrid approach are evaluated using available ground‐based and satellite measurements, including AERONET, VIIRS/DB aerosol and PRISMA Level 2 surface reflectance products. Plain Language Summary: Both aerosol and surface characterization at high spatial resolution are always highly demanded especially over densely populated urban areas. However, the high spatial resolution space‐borne instruments typically have small swaths that, in general, reduce the possibility of aerosol and surface decoupling. In this paper, we develop a hybrid approach based on GRASP algorithm (GRASP/Hybrid) to retrieve aerosol and surface properties at fine spatial granularity by combining fine and coarse spatial resolution satellite data. The GRASP/Hybrid approach is demonstrated using European Space Agency (ESA) Sentinel‐5p/TROPOMI and Italian Space Agency (ASI) PRISMA (Hyperspectral Precursor of the Application Mission) measurements. Specifically, the detailed aerosol microphysical properties from Sentinel‐5p/TROPOMI 10 km retrievals are used as a priori information to derive aerosol loading and surface properties exploiting PRISMA at 100 m spatial resolution. Overall, the results obtained in this study demonstrate the big potential of the approach based on the combination of instruments for a number of climate and environment monitoring studies. Key Points: Generalized Retrieval of Atmosphere and Surface Properties (GRASP)/Hybrid approach is developed and demonstrated using Sentinel‐5p/TROPOMI and PRISMA measurementsPRISMA 100 m aerosol and surface properties are retrieved based on GRASP/Hybrid approach and evaluated using reference data setsWe demonstrate the big potential of hybrid approach based on the combination of instruments for climate and environment studies [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the Atlantic References and Convection (ARC) ship campaign with the reference MSM114/2, which took place in early 2023, the German research vessel Maria S. Merian travelled from Mindelo, Cape Verde, to Punta Arenas, Chile. One of the main objectives of ARC was to obtain vertically resolved cross sections of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). To this end, we crossed the ITCZ three times in the meridional direction. We present the atmospheric and oceanographic measurements collected during ARC in a standardized way to facilitate working with data from different instruments and to make the data easily accessible. This approach is not limited to ARC but could serve as a prototype for future (and past) ship campaigns. We present data from the integrated ship sensors (DShip), a Humidity and Temperature Profiler (HATPRO), a Ceilometer, aerosol instruments (DustTrak, Microtops, and Calitoo), radiosondes, Uncrewed Aircaft Vehicles (UAV), and Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth (CTD) profiles of the upper ocean. We distinguish temporal continuous data (DShip, HATPRO, Ceilometer, DustTrak) from point measurements (radiosondes, UAVs, CTDs, Calitoo, Microtops). To illustrate the data sets provided, we present examples of measurements taken during the three crossings of the ITCZ and during a storm in the Roaring Forties in the South Atlantic at the end of the campaign. All data sets can be downloaded from Köhler et al. (2024a). An overview of all available data sets, including dois, can be found here: https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.966616. For references to the individual data sets, please refer to the data availability section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliable and robust monitoring tools are crucial to assess the effectiveness of land mitigation techniques (LMTs) in enhancing carbon uptake, enabling informed decision making by policymakers. This study, addressing one of the scientific goals of the EU Horizon 2020 Land Use Based Mitigation for Resilient Climate Pathways (LANDMARC) project, examines the feasibility of using satellite solar-induced fluorescence (SIF) in combination with other satellite data as a monitoring proxy to evaluate the effects of LMTs on carbon uptake. Two distinct cases are explored: (1) instantaneous vegetation destruction caused by a 2019 eucalyptus wildfire in southeast Australia and (2) gradual forest gain resulting from reforestation efforts in northern China in 2007–2012. The cases are monitored using SIF from the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) and Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment-2A (GOME-2A), respectively. Comparing the temporal variability in SIF across the affected areas and nearby reference areas reveals that vegetation dynamics changed as a consequence of the land-use changes in both cases. Specifically, in the Australia case, TROPOMI demonstrated an immediate reduction in the SIF signal of 0.6 mW m -2 sr -1 nm -1 (- 72 %) over the eucalypt forest right after the fire. Exploiting the strong correspondence between TROPOMI SIF and gross primary productivity (GPP) at the nearby representative eddy covariance Tumbarumba site and through the FluxSat product, we estimate that the Australian fire led to a loss in GPP of 130–200 GgC in the first 8 months after the fire. Over the northern Chinese provinces of Gansu, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Chongqing, and Shanxi, we report an increase in GOME-2A summertime SIF of 0.1–0.2 mW m -2 sr -1 nm -1 , coinciding with reforestation efforts between 2007 and 2012. This increase in the SIF signal is likely driven by a combination of increasingly favourable natural conditions and by the reforestation effort itself. A multivariate model that takes into account growth factors such as water availability and maximum temperature as well as satellite-derived forest-cover data explains the observed variability in GOME-2A SIF in the Chinese case reasonably well (R2=0.72). The model suggests that increases in both forest cover and soil moisture have led, in step, to the observed increase in vegetation activity over northern China. In that region, for every 100 km 2 of additional forest cover, SIF increases by 0.1 mW m -2 sr -1 nm -1 between 2007 and 2012. Our study highlights that the use of satellite-based SIF, together with supporting in situ, modelled, and satellite data, allows us to monitor the impact of LMT implementation on regional carbon uptake as long as the scale of the LMT is of sufficient spatial extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloud shadows can be detected in the radiance measurements of the TROPOMI instrument on board the Sentinel-5P satellite due to its high spatial resolution, and could possibly affect its air quality products. The cloud shadow induced signatures are, however, not always apparent and may depend on various cloud and scene parameters. Hence, the quantification of the cloud shadow impact requires the analysis of large data sets. Here we use the cloud shadow detection algorithm DARCLOS to detect cloud shadow pixels in the TROPOMI absorbing aerosol index (AAI) product over Europe during 8 months. For every shadow pixel, we automatically select cloud- and shadow-free neighbour pixels, in order to estimate the cloud shadow induced signature. In addition, we simulate the measured cloud shadow impact on the AAI with our newly developed 3D radiative transfer algorithm MONKI. Both the measurements and simulations show that the average cloud shadow impact on the AAI is close to zero (0.06 and 0.16, respectively). However, the top-of-atmosphere reflectance ratio between 340 and 380 nm, which is used to compute the AAI, is significantly increased in 95 % of the shadow pixels. So, cloud shadows are bluer than surrounding non-shadow pixels. Our simulations explain that the traditional AAI formula intrinsically already corrects for this cloud shadow effect, via the lower retrieved scene albedo. This cancellation of cloud shadow signatures is not always perfect, sometimes yielding second order low and high biases in the AAI which we also successfully reproduce with our simulations. We show that the magnitude of those second order cloud shadow effects depends on various cloud parameters which are difficult to determine for the shadows measured with TROPOMI. We conclude that a potential cloud shadow correction strategy for the TROPOMI AAI would therefore be complicated if not unnecessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Multi-Spectral Imager (MSI) on board the Earth Cloud, Aerosol and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) will provide horizontal information about aerosols and clouds. These measurements are needed to extend vertical cloud and aerosol property information, which is obtained from EarthCARE's active sensors, in order to obtain a full three-dimensional view of cloud and aerosol conditions. Mesoscale weather systems, in particular, will be characterized. The discovery of a non-compliance of the MSI visible–near-infrared–shortwave infrared (VNS) camera's visible (VIS) and shortwave infrared (SWIR1) channels regarding a spectral central wavelength (CWVL) shift across-track of up to 14 nm (VIS) and 20 nm (SWIR1) led to the need for an analysis regarding its impact on MSI Level-2A aerosol and cloud products. A significant influence of the spectral misalignment effect (SMILE) on MSI retrievals is identified due to the spectral variation in gas absorption, surface reflectance, and aerosol and cloud properties within the spectral ranges of these MSI bands. For example, the VIS channel is positioned in close proximity to the red edge of green vegetation and is impacted by residual absorption of water vapor and ozone. Small central wavelength variations introduce uncertainties due to the rapid change in surface reflectance for conditions with low optical thickness. The present central wavelength shift in the VIS towards shorter wavelengths than at nadir introduces a relative error in transmission of up to 3.3 % due to the increasing influence of water vapor and ozone absorption. We found relative errors in the top-of-atmosphere (TOA) signal due to the SMILE of up to 30 % for low optical thickness over a land surface in that band. Since the magnitude of the impact strongly depends on the underlying surface and atmospheric conditions, we conclude that accounting for the SMILE in Level-2 retrievals or correcting the Level-1 signal will improve MSI aerosol and cloud product quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce a spectral surface reflectivity climatology based on observations made by TROPOMI on board the Sentinel-5P satellite. The database contains the directionally dependent Lambertian-equivalent reflectivity (DLER) of the Earth's surface for 21 wavelength bands ranging from 328 to 2314 nm and for each calendar month. The spatial resolution of the database grid is 0.125° × 0.125°. A recently developed cloud shadow detection technique is implemented to avoid dark scenes due to cloud shadow. In the database, the anisotropy of the surface reflection is described using a third-order parameterisation of the viewing angle dependence. The viewing angle dependence of the DLER is analysed globally and for a selection of surface type regions. The dependence is found to agree with the viewing angle dependence found in the GOME-2 surface DLER database. Differences exist, related to the actual solar position. On average, the viewing angle dependence in TROPOMI DLER is weaker than for GOME-2 DLER, but still important. Validation of the new database was first performed by comparison of the non-directional TROPOMI surface LER with heritage LER databases based on GOME-1 , OMI, SCIAMACHY, and GOME-2 data. Agreement was found within 0.002–0.02 in the UV-VIS (below 500 nm), up to 0.003 in the NIR (670–772 nm), and below 0.001 in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) (2314 nm). These performance numbers are dominated by the performance over ocean, but they are in most cases also representative for land surfaces. For the validation of the directional TROPOMI surface DLER, we made use of comparison with the MODIS surface bi-directional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) for a selection of surface type regions. In all cases the DLER performed significantly better than the traditional LER, and we found good agreement with the MODIS surface BRDF. The TROPOMI surface DLER database is a clear improvement on previous surface albedo databases and can be used as input not only for satellite retrievals from TROPOMI observations, but also for retrievals from observations from other polar-orbiting satellite instruments provided that their equator crossing time is close to that of TROPOMI. The algorithm that is introduced in this paper can be used for the retrieval of surface reflectivity climatologies from other polar satellite missions as well, including Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI) on the Sentinel-3 satellites, Sentinel-5, and Multi-viewing Multi-channel Multi-polarisation imager (3MI) on the MetOp-SG-A1 satellite to be launched in 2025, as well as the future CO2M mission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Denitrification within the stratospheric vortex is a crucial process for Antarctic ozone hole formation, resulting in an analogous stratospheric "nitrogen hole". Sedimentation of large nitric acid trihydrate polar stratospheric cloud particles within the Antarctic polar stratospheric vortex that form during winter depletes the inner vortex of nitrogen oxides. Here, 2018–2021 daily TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) measurements are used for the first time for a detailed characterization of this nitrogen hole. Nitrogen dioxide total columns exhibit strong spatiotemporal and seasonal variations associated with photochemistry as well as transport and mixing processes. Combined with total ozone column data two main regimes are identified: inner-vortex ozone- and nitrogen-dioxide-depleted air and outer-vortex air enhanced in ozone and nitrogen dioxide. Within the vortex total ozone and total stratospheric nitrogen dioxide are strongly correlated, which is much less evident outside of the vortex. Connecting the two main regimes is a third regime of coherent patterns in the total nitrogen dioxide column–total ozone column phase space – defined here as "mixing lines". These mixing lines exist because of differences in three-dimensional variations of nitrogen dioxide and ozone, thereby providing information about vortex dynamics and cross-vortex edge mixing. On the other hand, interannual variability of nitrogen dioxide–total ozone characteristics is rather small except in 2019 when the vortex was unusually unstable. Overall, the results show that daily stratospheric nitrogen dioxide column satellite measurements provide an innovative means for characterizing polar stratospheric denitrification processes, vortex dynamics, and long-term monitoring of Antarctic ozone hole conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Multi-spectral Imager (MSI) on board the Earth Cloud, Aerosol and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) will provide horizontal information about aerosols and clouds. These measurements are needed to extend vertical cloud and aerosol property information, which are obtained from EarthCARE's active sensors, in order to obtain a full three dimensional view on cloud and aerosol conditions. Especially, meso-scale weather systems will be characterized. The discovery of a non-compliance of the MSI VNS camera's visible (VIS) and shortwave-infrared (SWIR1) channels regarding a spectral central wavelength (CWVL) shift across track of up to 14 nm (VIS) and 20 nm (SWIR1), led to the need for an analysis regarding its impact on MSI Level 2A aerosol and cloud products. A significant influence of the Spectral MIsaLignment Effect (SMILE) on MSI retrievals is identified due to the spectral variation of gas absorption, surface reflectance as well as aerosol and cloud properties within the spectral ranges of these MSI bands. For example, the VIS channel is positioned in close proximity to the red edge of green vegetation and is impacted by residual absorption of water vapour and ozone. Small central wavelength variations introduce uncertainties due to the rapid change in surface reflectance for conditions with low optical thickness. The present central wavelength shift in the VIS towards shorter wavelengths than at nadir introduces a relative error in transmission of up to 3.3 % due to the increasing influence of water vapour and ozone absorption. We found relative errors in the TOA signal due to the SMILE of up to 30 % for low optical thickness over a land surface in that band. Since the magnitude of the impact strongly depends on the underlying surface and atmospheric conditions, we conclude that accounting for the SMILE in Level 2 retrievals or correcting the Level 1 signal will improve MSI aerosol and cloud product quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we introduce a spectral surface reflectivity climatology based on observations made by the TROPOMI instrument on board the Sentinel-5P satellite. The database contains the directionally dependent Lambertian-equivalent reflectivity (DLER) of the Earth's surface for 21 wavelength bands ranging from 328nm to 2314nm and for each calendar month. The spatial resolution of the database grid is 0.125° × 0.125°. A recently developed cloud shadow detection technique is implemented to avoid dark scenes due to cloud shadow. In the database, the anisotropy of the surface reflection is described using a third-order parameterisation of the viewing angle dependence. The viewing angle dependence of the DLER is analysed globally and for a selection of surface type regions. The dependence is found to agree with the viewing angle dependence found in the GOME-2 surface DLER database. Differences exist, related to the actual solar position. On average, the viewing angle dependence in TROPOMI DLER is weaker than for GOME-2 DLER, but still important. Validation of the new database was first performed by comparison of the non-directional TROPOMI surface LER with heritage LER databases based on GOME-1, OMI, SCIAMACHY, and GOME-2 data. Agreement was found within 0.002-0.02 in the UV-VIS (below 500nm), up to 0.003 in the NIR (670-772nm), and below 0.001 in the SWIR (2314nm). These performance numbers are dominated by the performance over ocean, but they are in most cases also representative for land surfaces. For the validation of the directional TROPOMI surface DLER we made use of comparison with MODIS surface BRDF for a selection of surface type regions. In all cases the DLER performed significantly better than the traditional LER and we found good agreement with MODIS surface BRDF. The TROPOMI surface DLER database is a clear improvement on previous surface albedo databases and can be used as input not only for satellite retrievals from TROPOMI observations, but also for retrievals from observations from other polarorbiting satellite instruments provided that their equator crossing time is close to that of TROPOMI. The algorithm that is introduced in this paper can be used for the retrieval of surface reflectivity climatologies from other polar satellite missions as well, including OLCI on the Sentinel-3 satellites, Sentinel-5 and 3MI on the MetOp-SG-A1 satellite to be launched in 2025, and the future CO2M mission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Denitrification of the stratospheric vortex is a crucial process for the Antarctic Ozone Hole formation resulting in an analogous stratospheric "Nitrogen Hole". Here, 2018–2021 daily TROPOMI measurements are used for the first time for a detailed characterization of this Nitrogen Hole. Nitrogen dioxide total columns exhibit strong spatiotemporal and seasonal variations associated with both photochemistry as well as transport and mixing processes. Combined with total ozone column data two main regimes are identified: inner-vortex ozone and nitrogen dioxide depleted air and outer-vortex air enhanced in ozone and nitrogen dioxide. Within the vortex total ozone and total stratospheric nitrogen dioxide are strongly correlated which is much less evident outside of the vortex. Connecting both main regimes are what is defined here as "mixing lines", a third regime of coherent patterns in the total nitrogen dioxide column – total ozone column phase space. These mixing lines exist because of differences in three dimensional variations of nitrogen dioxide and ozone thereby providing information about vortex dynamics and cross-vortex edge mixing. On the other hand, interannual variability of nitrogen dioxide – total ozone characteristics are rather small except in 2019 when the vortex was unusually unstable. Overall, the results show that daily stratospheric nitrogen dioxide column satellite measurements provide an innovative means for characterizing and Polar stratospheric denitrification processes and vortex dynamics and potentially long term monitoring if the total nitrogen column data record is extended with past satellite observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Denitrification of the stratospheric vortex is a crucial process for the Antarctic Ozone Hole formation resulting in an analogous stratospheric “Nitrogen Hole”. Here, 2018-2021 daily TROPOMI measurements are used for the first time for a detailed characterization of this Nitrogen Hole. Nitrogen dioxide total columns exhibit strong spatiotemporal and seasonal variations associated with both photochemistry as well as transport and mixing processes. Combined with total ozone column data two main regimes are identified: inner-vortex ozone and nitrogen dioxide depleted air and outer-vortex air enhanced in ozone and nitrogen dioxide. Within the vortex total ozone and total stratospheric nitrogen dioxide are strongly correlated which is much less evident outside of the vortex. Connecting both main regimes are what is defined here as “mixing lines”, a third regime of coherent patterns in the total nitrogen dioxide column - total ozone column phase space. These mixing lines exist because of differences in three dimensional variations of nitrogen dioxide and ozone thereby providing information about vortex dynamics and cross-vortex edge mixing. On the other hand, interannual variability of nitrogen dioxide – total ozone characteristics are rather small except in 2019 when the vortex was unusually unstable. Overall, the results show that daily stratospheric nitrogen dioxide column satellite measurements provide an innovative means for characterizing polar stratospheric denitrification processes, vortex dynamics and potentially long term monitoring if the total nitrogen column data record is extended with past satellite observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliable and robust monitoring tools are crucial to assess the effectiveness of land mitigation techniques (LMTs) in enhancing carbon uptake, enabling informed decision-making by policymakers. This study, addressing one of the scientific goals of the EU H2020 LANDMARC project, examines the feasibility of using satellite solar-induced fluorescence (SIF), in combination with other satellite data, as a monitoring proxy to evaluate the effects of LMTs on carbon uptake. Two distinct cases are explored: (1) instantaneous vegetation destruction caused by a 2019 Eucalyptus wildfire in south-east Australia, and, (2) gradual forest gain resulting from reforestation efforts in northern China over 2007–2012. The cases are monitored using TROPOMI and GOME-2A SIF, respectively. Comparing the temporal variability in SIF across the affected and nearby reference areas reveals that vegetation dynamics changed as a consequence of the land use changes in both cases. Specifically, in the Australia case, TROPOMI demonstrated an immediate reduction in SIF signal of 0.6 mW m−2 sr−1 nm−1 (−72 %) over the Eucalypt Forest right after the fire. Exploiting the strong correspondence between TROPOMI SIF and gross primary productivity (GPP) at the nearby eddy-covariance Tumbarumba site and through the FluxSat product, we estimate that the fire led to a loss in GPP of 130–200 GgC in the first eight months after the fire. Over the northern Chinese provinces of Gansu, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Chongqing and Shanxi, we report an increase in GOME-2A summertime SIF of 0.1–0.2 mW m−2 sr−1 nm−1 coinciding with reforestation efforts between 2007 and 2012. This increase in SIF signal is likely driven by a combination of increasingly favourable natural conditions and the reforestation effort itself. A multivariate model that takes into account growth factors such as water availability and maximum temperature as well as satellite-derived forest cover data explains the observed variability in GOME-2A SIF in the Chinese case reasonably well (R2=0.72). The model suggests that both increases in forest cover as well as in soil moisture have led, in step, to the observed increase in vegetation activity over northern China. In that region, for every 100 km2 of additional forest cover, SIF increases by 0.1 mW m−2 sr−1 nm−1 between 2007 and 2012. Our study highlights that the combined use of satellite-based SIF, together with supporting in situ, modelled and satellite-data, allows to monitor the impact of LMT implementation on regional carbon uptake as long as the scale of the LMT is of sufficient spatial extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vulnerability of the (European) aviation system to the airborne hazards was evident during the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption in 2010. For support of Air Traffic Control (ATC) many observations of the event were available from satellites, ground based instruments and airborne platforms, at pan-European scale. However, efficient use of the data for ATC proved difficult mainly due to sub-optimal aggregation and integrated assessment of the available information in near-real-time. The project EUNADICS-AV (European Natural Disaster Coordination and Information System for Aviation) aims to close this gap. The observational component of the project will make existing data products for airborne hazards more accessible, visible and used, and to foster tailored product development. Once assimilated into models and integrated in the EUNADICS-AV Data Portal these data can be the base to efficiently improve European airspace resilience to airborne hazards. Since 2010 new data products have become available specifically for for airborne hazard alerting and monitoring together with specific tailored products designed for replying to user needs and recommendations. This paper describes the EUNADICS-AV approach and will focus on the role of operational and research grade ground based lidars.

Motivated by several observations of the degree of linear polarization of skylight in the oxygen A ([O.sub.2]A) band that do not yet have a quantitative explanation, we analyze the influence of aerosol altitude, microphysics, and optical thickness on the degree of linear polarization of the zenith skylight in the spectral region of the [O.sub.2]A band, between 755 to 775 nm. It is shown that the degree of linear polarization inside the [O.sub.2]A band is particularly sensitive to aerosol altitude. The sensitivity is strongest for aerosols within the troposphere and depends also on their microphysical properties and optical thickness. The polarization of the [O.sub.2]A band can be larger than the polarization of the continuum, which typically occurs for strongly polarizing aerosols in an elevated layer, or smaller, which typically occurs for depolarizing aerosols or cirrus clouds in an elevated layer. We show that in the case of a single aerosol layer in the atmosphere a determination of the aerosol layer altitude may be obtained. Furthermore, we show limitations of the aerosol layer altitude determination in case of multiple aerosol layers. To perform these simulations we developed a fast method for multiple scattering radiative transfer calculations in gaseous absorption bands including polarization. The method is a combination of doubling-adding and k-binning methods. We present an error estimation of this method by comparing with accurate line-by-line radiative transfer simulations. For the [O.sub.2]A band, the errors in the degree of linear polarization are less than 0.11% for transmitted light, and less than 0.31% for reflected light. OCIS codes: 010.1110, 260.5430, 280.1310, 101.320, 300.1030.

We analyze the sensitivity of the degree of linear polarization in the Sun's principal plane as a function of aerosol microphysical parameters: the real and imaginary parts of the refractive index, the median radius and geometric standard deviation of the bimodal size distribution (both fine and coarse modes), and the relative number weight of the fine mode at a wavelength of 675 nm. We use Mie theory for single-scattering simulations and the doubling--adding method with the inclusion of polarization for multiple scattering. It is shown that the behavior of the degree of linear polarization is highly sensitive to both the small mode of the bimodal size distribution and the real part of the refractive index of aerosols, as well as to the aerosol optical thickness; whereas not all parameters influence the polarization equally. A classification of the importance of the input parameters is given. This sensitivity study is applied to an analysis of ground-based polarization measurements. For the passive remote sensing of microphysical and optical properties of aerosols, a ground-based spectral polarization measuring system was built, which aims to measure the Stokes parameters I, Q, and U in the visible (from 410 to 789 nm) and near-infrared (from 674 to 995 nm) spectral range with a spectral resolution of 7 nm in the visible and 2.4 nm in the near infrared. We compare polarization measurements taken with radiative transfer simulations under both clear- and hazy-sky conditions in an urban area (Cabauw, The Netherlands, 51.58[degrees] N, 4.56[degrees] E). Conclusions about the microphysical properties of aerosol are drawn from the comparison. OCIS codes: 010.1110, 260.5430, 280.1310.

We compare the Earth reflectances of the spectrometers Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME) and Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Chartography (SCIAMACHY) over their overlapping wavelength range (240-800 nm). The goal is to investigate the quality of the radiometric calibration of SCIAMACHY using calibrated GOME data as a reference. However, severe degradation of the GOME instrument in the UV since 2001 prevents it from being a reliable reference below 500 nm. Above 500 nm, GOME is reliable and we find substantial disagreement between GOME and SCIAMACHY, of the order of 15%-20%, which we can attribute completely to the current calibration problems of SCIAMACHY. These numbers are supported by a previous study in which SCIAMACHY was compared with the imager Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) onboard the Envisat satellite. OCIS codes: 280.0280, 010.0010.

The Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) flies on the National Aeronautics and Space Adminsitration's Earth Observing System Aura satellite launched in July 2004. OMI is a ultraviolet/visible (UV/VIS) nadir solar backscatter spectrometer, which provides nearly global coverage in one day with a spatial resolution of 13 km x 24 km. Trace gases measured include [O.sub.3], N[O.sub.2], S[O.sub.2], HCHO, BrO, and OCIO. In addition, OMI will measure aerosol characteristics, cloud top heights, and UV irradiance at the surface. OMI's unique capabilities for measuring important trace gases with a small footprint and dally global coverage will be a major contribution to our understanding of stratospheric and tropospheric chemistry and climate change. OMI's high spatial resolution is unprecedented and will enable detection of air pollution on urban scale resolution. In this paper, the instrument and its performance will be discussed. Index Terms--Air quality, atmospheric research, ozone layer, ultraviolet/visible (UVMS) satellite instruments.

Four ice-crystal models are tested by use of ice-cloud reflectances derived from Along Track Scanning Radiometer-2 (ATSR-2) and Polarization and Directionality of Earth's Reflectances (POLDER) radiance measurements. The analysis is based on dual-view ATSR-2 total reflectances of tropical cirrus and POLDER global-scale total and polarized reflectances of ice clouds at as many as 14 viewing directions. Adequate simulations of ATSR-2 total reflectances at 0.865 [micro]m are obtained with model clouds consisting of moderately distorted imperfect hexagonal monocrystals (IMPs). The optically thickest clouds ([tau] > ~16) in the selected case tend to be better simulated by use of pure hexagonal monocrystals (PHMs). POLDER total reflectances at 0.670 [micro]m are best simulated with columnar or platelike IMPs or columnar inhomogeneous hexagonal monocrystals (IHMs). Less-favorable simulations are obtained for platelike IHMs and polycrystals (POLYs). Inadequate simulations of POLDER total and polarized reflectances are obtained for model clouds consisting of PHMs. Better simulations of the POLDER polarized reflectances at 0.865 [micro]m are obtained with IMPs, IHMs, or POLYs, although POLYs produce polarized reflectances that are systematically lower than most of the measurements. The best simulations of the polarized reflectance for the ice-crystal models assumed in this study are obtained for model clouds consisting of columnar IMPs or IHMs. OCIS codes: 010.2940, 280.1310, 290.1090.