American Journal of Remote Sensing

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Construction of an Inexpensive Sun Photometer to Measure Aerosol Optical Depth and Comparisons between the Measured Data and Satellite Observations

Received: 18 October 2014    Accepted: 03 November 2014    Published: 10 November 2014
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Abstract

At present the absorption and scattering of solar radiation by aerosols have been recognized as important parameters for climate change. A way of probing the atmosphere from the ground is to measure the effects of the atmosphere on sunlight transmitted to Earth's surface. This indirect technique provides information about the entire atmosphere above the observer. This paper describes a new kind of inexpensive two channels LED sun photometer for monitoring aerosols that provide long-term stability. In this study, we have constructed a handheld sun photometer and used it to measure and monitor the aerosol optical depth (AOD) and compared the measured values with the satellite data. The ground based measurements of AOD at 550nm from a handheld sun photometer is compared with the Terra and Aqua MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometers (MODIS) AOD retrievals over the region of Rajshahi division, Bangladesh for the 15 days duration of June 2012. The results indicate that the constructed handheld sun photometer measurements have good correlations with Terra and Aqua MODIS retrievals with correlation coefficients r = 0.88 for Terra and r = 0.55 for Aqua whereas correlation coefficients between Terra and Aqua is 0.65. AOD at 625nm is also documented to find out the relation of AOD at different wavelengths.

DOI 10.11648/j.ajrs.20140205.11
Published in American Journal of Remote Sensing (Volume 2, Issue 5, October 2014)
Page(s) 37-43
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Aerosol, Aerosol Optical Depth, Constructed Inexpensive Sun Photometer, Terra and Aqua MODIS

References
[1] A. Retalis, D. G. Hadjimitsis, S. Michaelides, F. Tymvios, N. Chrysoulakis, C. R. I. Clayton, and K. Themistocleous, 2010: Comparison of aerosol optical thickness with in situ visibility data over Cyprus. Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 10, 421–428.
[2] D.G. Kaskaoutis, N. Sifakis, A. Retalis, and H. D. Kambezidis, 2010: Aerosol Monitoring over Athens Using Satellite and Ground-Based Measurements. Advances in Meteorology, Volume 2010 (2010), Article ID 147910, 12 pages, doi:10.1155/2010/147910.
[3] YANG Jing-Mei, QIU Jin-Huan, and ZHAO Yan-Liang, 2010: Validation of Aerosol Optical Depth from Terra and Aqua MODIS Retrievals over a Tropical Coastal Site in China. ATMOSPHERIC AND OCEANIC SCIENCE LETTERS, VOL. 3, NO. 1, 36−39.
[4] David R. Brooks, 2006: Monitoring Solar Radiation and Its Transmission Through the Atmosphere. Research Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA USA, President, Institute for Earth Science Research and Education, Norristown, PA USA, The GLOBE Program's Aerosols, Water Vapor, and UV-A Monitoring Projects.
[5] Forrest M. Mims III: An Inexpensive and Accurate Student Sun Photometer with Light-Emitting Diodes as Spectrally Selective Detectors. Sun Photometer Atmospheric Network, 433 Twin Oak Road, Seguin, Texas 78155 USA.
[6] E. Gerasopoulos, V. Amiridis, S. Kazadzis, P. Kokkalis, K. Eleftheratos, M. O. Andreae, T. W. Andreae,H. El-Askary, and C. S. Zerefos, 2011: Three-year ground based measurements of aerosol optical depth over the Eastern Mediterranean: the urban environment of Athens. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 2145–2159, doi: 10.5194/acp-11-2145-2011.
[7] Joris de Vroom, October 2003: The Contribution of Dutch GLOBE Schools to Validation of Aerosol Measurements from Space. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
[8] V. Buchard, C. Brogniez, F. Auriol, T. Podvin, L. Blarel: Comparisons between ground-based and satellite retrievals in the UV range. LOA, Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille, France.
[9] YORAM J.KAUFMAN, 1993: Aerosol Optical Thickness and Atmospheric Path Radiance. Laboratory for Atmospheres, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL.98, NO.D2, PAGES 2677-2692.
[10] M. Shekar Reddy, Olivier Boucher, Nicolas Bellouin, Michael Schulz, Yves Balkanski, Jean-Louis Dufresne, and Mai Pham, 2005: Estimates of global multicomponent aerosol optical depth and direct radiative perturbation in the Laboratoire de Me´te´orologie Dynamique general circulation model. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 110, D10S16, doi: 10.1029/2004JD004757.
[11] Jun Wang and Sundar A. Christopher, 2003: Intercomparison between satellite-derived aerosol optical thickness and PM2.5mass: Implications for air quality studies. Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama, USA, GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL.30, NO.21,2095, doi:10.1029/2003GL018174.
[12] BARRYA. BODHAINE, NORMANB. WOOD, ELLSWORTHG. DUTTON, JAMESR. SLUSSER, 1999: On Rayleigh Optical Depth Calculations. Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, NOAA/Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory,Boulder, Colorado, NOAA/Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado.
[13] J. Gr¨obner, R. Vergaz, V. E. Cachorro, D. V. Henriques, K. Lamb, A. Redondas, J. M. Vilaplana, and D. Rembges, 2001: Intercomparison of aerosol optical depth measurements in the UVB using Brewer spectrophotometers and a Li-Cor spectrophotometer. GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 28, NO. 9, PAGES 1691-1694.
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Author Information
  • Department of Applied Physics and Electronic Engineering, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh

  • Department of Applied Physics and Electronic Engineering, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh

  • Department of Applied Physics and Electronic Engineering, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh

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  • APA Style

    Pallab Kumar Mondol, Md Mainul Islam Mamun, Md Monirul Islam. (2014). Construction of an Inexpensive Sun Photometer to Measure Aerosol Optical Depth and Comparisons between the Measured Data and Satellite Observations. American Journal of Remote Sensing, 2(5), 37-43. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajrs.20140205.11

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    ACS Style

    Pallab Kumar Mondol; Md Mainul Islam Mamun; Md Monirul Islam. Construction of an Inexpensive Sun Photometer to Measure Aerosol Optical Depth and Comparisons between the Measured Data and Satellite Observations. Am. J. Remote Sens. 2014, 2(5), 37-43. doi: 10.11648/j.ajrs.20140205.11

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    AMA Style

    Pallab Kumar Mondol, Md Mainul Islam Mamun, Md Monirul Islam. Construction of an Inexpensive Sun Photometer to Measure Aerosol Optical Depth and Comparisons between the Measured Data and Satellite Observations. Am J Remote Sens. 2014;2(5):37-43. doi: 10.11648/j.ajrs.20140205.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajrs.20140205.11,
      author = {Pallab Kumar Mondol and Md Mainul Islam Mamun and Md Monirul Islam},
      title = {Construction of an Inexpensive Sun Photometer to Measure Aerosol Optical Depth and Comparisons between the Measured Data and Satellite Observations},
      journal = {American Journal of Remote Sensing},
      volume = {2},
      number = {5},
      pages = {37-43},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajrs.20140205.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajrs.20140205.11},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajrs.20140205.11},
      abstract = {At present the absorption and scattering of solar radiation by aerosols have been recognized as important parameters for climate change. A way of probing the atmosphere from the ground is to measure the effects of the atmosphere on sunlight transmitted to Earth's surface. This indirect technique provides information about the entire atmosphere above the observer. This paper describes a new kind of inexpensive two channels LED sun photometer for monitoring aerosols that provide long-term stability. In this study, we have constructed a handheld sun photometer and used it to measure and monitor the aerosol optical depth (AOD) and compared the measured values with the satellite data. The ground based measurements of AOD at 550nm from a handheld sun photometer is compared with the Terra and Aqua MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometers (MODIS) AOD retrievals over the region of Rajshahi division, Bangladesh for the 15 days duration of June 2012. The results indicate that the constructed handheld sun photometer measurements have good correlations with Terra and Aqua MODIS retrievals with correlation coefficients r = 0.88 for Terra and r = 0.55 for Aqua whereas correlation coefficients between Terra and Aqua is 0.65. AOD at 625nm is also documented to find out the relation of AOD at different wavelengths.},
     year = {2014}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Construction of an Inexpensive Sun Photometer to Measure Aerosol Optical Depth and Comparisons between the Measured Data and Satellite Observations
    AU  - Pallab Kumar Mondol
    AU  - Md Mainul Islam Mamun
    AU  - Md Monirul Islam
    Y1  - 2014/11/10
    PY  - 2014
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajrs.20140205.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajrs.20140205.11
    T2  - American Journal of Remote Sensing
    JF  - American Journal of Remote Sensing
    JO  - American Journal of Remote Sensing
    SP  - 37
    EP  - 43
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-580X
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajrs.20140205.11
    AB  - At present the absorption and scattering of solar radiation by aerosols have been recognized as important parameters for climate change. A way of probing the atmosphere from the ground is to measure the effects of the atmosphere on sunlight transmitted to Earth's surface. This indirect technique provides information about the entire atmosphere above the observer. This paper describes a new kind of inexpensive two channels LED sun photometer for monitoring aerosols that provide long-term stability. In this study, we have constructed a handheld sun photometer and used it to measure and monitor the aerosol optical depth (AOD) and compared the measured values with the satellite data. The ground based measurements of AOD at 550nm from a handheld sun photometer is compared with the Terra and Aqua MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometers (MODIS) AOD retrievals over the region of Rajshahi division, Bangladesh for the 15 days duration of June 2012. The results indicate that the constructed handheld sun photometer measurements have good correlations with Terra and Aqua MODIS retrievals with correlation coefficients r = 0.88 for Terra and r = 0.55 for Aqua whereas correlation coefficients between Terra and Aqua is 0.65. AOD at 625nm is also documented to find out the relation of AOD at different wavelengths.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 5
    ER  - 

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