An accuracy assessment of the interactive calibration of ASTER/TIR with MODIS

A basic concept for an interactive calibration between EOS-AM1/ASTER and MODIS is proposed together with the method for assessment of interactive calibration accuracy. The results from preliminary assessment on atmospheric transparency differences between two wavelength regions of ASTER/TIR and MODIS by using LOWTRAN-7 show the possibility of the proposed interactive calibration. The differences between atmospheric transparency for ASTER/TIR band 11 and MODIS band 29 and ASTER/TIR band 14 and MODIS band 31, respectively, were assessed with LOWTRAN-7 under the assumption of 1976 US standard and subarctic winter atmosphere and the ground cover of 0% albedo. The transparency of the atmosphere in these wavelength regions are not so different that it is possible to calibrate each other if a homogeneous target is used and the pixels of both sensor are collocated. Furthermore it was found that the spectral emissivity difference of the ground cover targets between both sensors´ wavelength regions is not so large contributions to the interactive calibration accuracy