Challenges and Approaches for Sensor Reflective Solar Calibration

Significant advances have been made in recent years by many countries and agencies in Earth observations via remote sensing instruments operated onboard LEO and GEO satellites. For passive optical sensors, reflective solar (RS) calibration remains extremely challenging in terms of calibration traceability, accuracy, stability, and consistency. The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of sensor RS calibration approaches with examples from the MODIS on the Terra and Aqua spacecraft and the VIIRS on the S-NPP and N-20. Lessons and calibration strategies developed to address various challenging issues are also discussed.