AST_09T v003

The Science Scalable Scripts-based Science Processor for Missions (S4PM) Version 3.4 algorithm has additional input data options that provide better input data coverage (simultaneously acquired MODIS data versus 6-hourly modeled NCEP input data) and consequently more accurate Level 2 output data. The updated algorithm includes the following improvements:

• A new option has been added to use MODIS Version 6.1 (MOD07_L2) Temperature, Water Vapor, and Pressure inputs. The default order option will remain as National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP)/Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS).
• The default for the Ozone input data was switched from NCEP/Television Infrared Observation Satellite (TIROS) Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS) to the new Total Ozone Analysis using Solar Backscatter UltraViolet Version 2 (SBUV/2) and TOVS (TOAST)/Earth Probe-Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (EPTOMS) option.
• The Level 2 algorithm has been updated to provide a fall back option for the Temperature/Water Vapor/Pressure and Ozone input selections. Both selections will automatically revert to the next lower input if the selected input is not available.
  • The Temperature/Water Vapor/Pressure input will fall back from MOD07 to NCEP/GDAS then to Climatology.
  • The Ozone input will fall back from TOAST/EPTOMS to OZ_DLY/TOVS then to Climatology.
• Users can check the OPERATIONALQUALITYFLAGEXPLANATION field in the metadata file of the output product file to see if a fall back has occurred and identify which input source was used to generate the Level 2 product files.

There are three groups of ancillary data inputs used in the atmospheric correction of ASTER Level 2 products:

1. Ozone data input: The default for the Ozone input data is the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP)/Television Infrared Observation Satellite (TIROS) Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS). The NCEP/TOVS data are acquired from a NOAA satellite, and provides the ancillary column ozone data twice daily. The fall back option is the new Total Ozone Analysis using Solar Backscatter UltraViolet Version 2 (SBUV/2) and TOVS (TOAST)/Earth Probe-Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (EPTOMS) option. The second fall back option is the Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Ozone Climatology dataset.
2. Aerosol data input: The NRL Aerosol Climatology ancillary data are the only available input.
3. Temperature, Atmospheric pressure, and Moisture Profile data inputs: Simultaneously acquired MODIS Version 6.1 (MOD07_L2) Temperature, Water Vapor, and Pressure inputs were added as a new option on October 23, 2019. The default order option will remain as the NCEP-Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS) which is available every 6 hours. The second alternative is the NRL Climatology data which are based on modeling, simulation, and prediction. They are static, monthly, averaged datasets, therefore, used only as a last resort.