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3.2 WGII to discuss aerosol observations in GEO and LEO, and the inclusion of aerosols as an
observation from GEO and LEO to which CGMS can commit
CGMS-49-CMA-WP-04: Aerosol products from Fengyun satellite
L. Chan gave a presentation on aerosol products provided by Fengyun satellite. In the past few
decades, most of the studies of aerosol remote sensing retrieval have been carried out using polar-
orbiting satellites Terra/MODIS and Aqua/MODIS, Suomi-NPP/VIIRS, etc. With the rapid development
of remote sensing in China, the potential of FY-series satellite remote sensing data has been explored
in atmospheric environment. So far, China has launched seventeen meteorological satellites, including
polar-orbiting and geostationary satellites, and at least five instruments can observe atmospheric
aerosol properties. The aerosol retrieval algorithms using the imagery sensor on-board the satellite
over land and ocean was introduced, as well as the operational products’ formats, resolution, and
accessible methods. Using the AERONET observations and MODIS operational AOD products, the
accuracy of existing AOD datasets based on FY satellites was evaluated and compared. Aiming at the
deficiency of the operational FY AOD products, the study examines the enhanced directions in the
next stage, further improving the benefit of FY-satellite remote sensing data.
Since 2009, the China Meteorological Administration has released aerosol products over land and
ocean to the public, with a resolution of 1km/5km for polar-orbit satellite and 4km for geostationary
satellite. The future improvement plan is to ameliorate 1) identification of cloud and haze: The existing
AOD products take the service cloud identification products as the basis of cloud identification, while
the selection principle of the cloudy pixels is very strict, without distinguishing the haze scenes
separately; 2) Aerosol type classification; and 3) surface reflectance relationship over brighter pixels
when the existing algorithm mainly focus on the development and optimisation of dark target areas
with dense vegetation coverage, but there are still some limitations in the process of bright surface
areas. In the future, the processing strategy of dark blue algorithm for bright surface will be explored.
CGMS-49-EUMETSAT-WP-13: Aerosol Observations from EUMETSAT and Third-Party Missions
R. Munro gave an overview presentation of aerosol observing capabilities from EUMETSAT and third-
party missions. Those missions with aerosol observing capabilities in Low Earth Orbit include MetOp
GOME-2, AVHRR and IASI, which are used together to generate the Polar Multi-mission Aerosol
product (PMAp), Copernicus Sentinel-3 SLSTR & OLCI, EPS-SG 3MI, Copernicus Sentinel-5, METimage,
and IASI-NG, which will also be used together to provide MAP (Multi-mission Aerosol product). In the
Geostationary Orbit, there are aerosol observing capabilities from the MSG SEVIRI, MTG-I FCI, and the
MTG-S Copernicus Sentinel-4 and IRS.
The currently available products are AOD provided from MetOp PMAp & Copernicus Sentinel-3 SLSTR.
The products are currently operational over ocean and demonstrational over land, with improvements
in progress. Information about the aerosol type is also provided and aerosol sources via the Sentinel-
3 SLSTR Fire Radiative Power (FRP) product. Products in development include improved AOD from
MetOp PMAp and Sentinel-3 SLSTR, refined and more robust AOD from EPS-SG 3MI and MAP, aerosol
model information from EPS-SG 3MI and MAP, optimised for the needs of the Copernicus Atmosphere
Monitoring Service (CAMS) model (Sea Salt, Dust, Black Carbon, Sulphates, Organic matter). Aerosol
layer height is expected to be provided from Sentinel-3 OLCI, EPS-SG MAP, and Copernicus Sentinel-4
and Sentinel-5. Finally, high frequency AOD information will be available from the MTG-I FCI and
dust/ash information from the MTG-S IRS.
CGMS-49-JAXA-WP-03: GCOM-C and AHI aerosol product development
H. Murakami gave a presentation on JAXA’s GCOM-C and AHI aerosol product development. JAXA has
developed a common algorithm to estimate aerosol optical thickness AOT, AE, and SSA applicable to