The AOD Sensitivity Comparison between MODIS Multi-Angle Implementation of Atmospheric Correction (MAIAC) and Standard MODIS Surface Reflectance

Yujie Wang, Feng Zhao, Alexei I. Lyapustin

Abstract: This study compares the Multi-Angle Implementation of Atmospheric Correction (MAIAC) and standard MODIS surface reflectance (SR) products (MOD09) for various aerosol optical depth (AOD) levels. Data from one MODIS tile in northern China for the whole year 2018 is compared. The results reveal that MAIAC SR has good stability for the full range of AOD for which SR is reported, whereas MOD09 SR shows increasing high bias with AOD increases. The cross-comparison of spectral characteristics between MAIAC SR and MOD09 SR shows a systematic MAIAC-MOD09 difference increasing from NIR to Blue. This pattern is consistent with the bias caused by Lambertian assumption used in MOD09 SR algorithm.