A New Visible Albedo Normalization Method: Quasi-Lambertian Surface Adjustment

Abstract

Abstract A new visible (VIS; 0.55–0.9 μm) albedo normalization method, that is, the quasi-Lambertian surface adjustment (QLSA), is developed herein by using the geostationary meteorological satellite data and radiative transfer model. Taking the variation of relative locations between the sun, satellite, and clouds into account, the QLSA effectively reduces the inconsistencies in the VIS image brightness caused by the Lambertian surface approximation to cloud tops (i.e., the reflection characteristic is isotropic). The evaluation, using Chinese and Japanese geostationary satellite data, shows that the QLSA is more effective and accurate than three other albedo normalization methods currently in use. The new algorithm is applicable in regions with solar zenith angle and satellite zenith angle less than 60°, which, in the summertime, approximately corresponds to the time range from 0800 to 1600 local time (LT).