Overview of cal val and environment data product performance derived from Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS)

Abstract

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument which is onboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP)/Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) satellites has transitioned much of the capability of the experimental MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instruments into the operational domain. VIIRS provides a continuation of global environment monitoring for Land, Ocean, Cloud, and Atmosphere. The high quality observations and derived products generated from VIIRS have been used to improve operational environmental forecast skills and enhance our understanding of climate change processes. Since S-NPP successfully launched in October 2011, NOAA STAR science teams have been focused on maintaining, development, calibration/validation, and upgrade of the VIIRS algorithms. By far, most of the S-NPP VIIRS sensor and environmental data products have been fully validated and characterized through rigorous cal/val review process. The validated science algorithms are now used for reprocessing of the entire S-NPP mission lifetime of the VIIRS data product records. This paper presents an insight into these processes with examples of science data products operationally available from the S-NPP VIIRS Instrument. In addition, plans and preparations towards JPSS-1 launch and pre-operational evaluation JPSS-1 algorithms and product performance using proxy and Thermal Vacuum measurements are presented.