Satellite Detection of Complex Aerosols over the Arabian Peninsula/Gulf

Abstract

Satellite detection of complex aerosols, in particular, Oil smoke over water and dust over land, is generally difficult. On 1 March 1991, a smoke plume generated by burning Kuwaiti oil wells and a dust storm over the southwestern Arabian Peninsula, provide the opportunity to study both of these effects. Utilizing NOAA-11 AVHRR data, a two dimensional scatter plot analysis technique was employed to determine and classify the radiative signatures of the smoke and dust. A two dimensional mask routine was then used to assess the reliability of the scatter plot analyses and spatially display the results. A channel 1 to channel 2 radiance ratio and a channel 4 brightness temperature combination provided the best separation of the smoke signature from water. The dust plume was unambiguously represented by a channel 5 brightness temperature minus channel 4 brightness temperature image and a channel 4 brightness temperature combination. Together the 2D scatter plot technique and 2D mask form the groundwork for a possible detection algorithm.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1992
Accession Number
ADA256085

Entities

People

  • William P. Morgan

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Data Analysis
  • Data Processing
  • Detection
  • Dust Storms
  • Meteorology
  • Middle East
  • Military Operations
  • Oceanography
  • Oil Wells
  • Refraction
  • Schools
  • Solar Radiation
  • Two Dimensional
  • United States
  • United States Naval Academy
  • Visible Spectra

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Remote Sensing.
  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Marine Ecotoxicology

Technology Areas

  • Space