Abstract

New visible and near-infrared radiometers on meteorological and oceanographic satellites have made it possible to detect variations of aerosol particles within the marine atmospheric boundary layer. Fett and Isaacs (1979) hypothesized that some brightness variations observed in DMSP (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program) images of cloud-free ocean regions were caused by variations of particle concentrations. Hindman, et al. (1984) and Durkee (1984) have varified through field studies that satellite-detected brightness variations observed in AVHRR (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer) and CZCS (Coastal Zone Color Scanner) images are related to measured variations of aerosol particles within the marine boundary layer. Further, Isaacs (1980) and Durkee (1984) have shown that variations of marine atmospheric boundary layer properties such as relative humidity and inversion height are related to particle concentrations and thus aerosol optical depth. Therefor, satellite-detected brightness variations can be related to variations of boundary layer properties under certain meteorological conditions.

© 1985 Optical Society of America