Satellite based retrieval of aerosol optical thickness: The effect of sun and satellite geometry

[1] The DOE research satellite instrument, the Multispectral Thermal Imager (MTI), has several spectral bands in the visible and near infrared part of the spectrum that can be used for AOD (Aerosol Optical Depth) retrieval. Small pixel size (5 m x 5 m in the visible and 20 m x 20 m in the infrared) eliminates most sub-pixel size cloud problems. We analyze 18 pairs of images, taken close to nadir and back along the track at a viewing angle around 60degrees, and compare results of a single view AOD retrieval algorithm with the AERONET measurements. We find that the single view AOD retrieval algorithm is more accurate at smaller scattering angles (at off-nadir view). The root mean square (RMS) error of the MTI AOD single view retrieval in this region is around 0.03 compared to 0.11 for larger scattering angles at near-nadir view.