In-flight radiometric calibration plans for the Earth Observing System-Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer

The Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) will fly on the EOS-AM1 spacecraft, and provide global data sets with nine discrete view directions per scene. The instrument's radiometric scale is achieved by use of detector standards. On-orbit, photodiodes measure reflected light from solar-illuminated deployable Spectralon panels. The cameras simultaneously view the panels, providing the needed calibration data inputs. Other calibration methodologies include vicarious calibration and histogram equalization. Coefficients, as derived from the various methods, are weighted to produce a single determination of the gain and offset parameters. This process is repeated at monthly intervals to insure the calibration is maintained. Routine product generation makes use of these calibration coefficients, and also corrects for instrument-dependent errors in the radiance determination. These latter processing steps include corrections for camera out-of-band response, focal-plane scattering, and detector-to-detector nonuniformity of response. This paper reviews the MISR standard radiometric product and the in-flight radiometric calibration and characterization plans.