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Optical Passive Sensor Calibration for Satellite Remote Sensing and the Legacy of NOAA and NIST Cooperation
Published
Author(s)
Raju V. Datla , Michael Weinreb, Joseph P. Rice, B. Carol Johnson, Eric L. Shirley, Changyong Cao
Abstract
This paper traces the cooperative effort of the scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for improving the calibration of operational satellite sensors for remote sensing of the Earth, atmosphere and oceans. It gives a chronological perspective of the NOAA weather satellite program and the interactions between the two agencies' scientists to address pre-launch calibration and issues of sensor performance on orbit. The drive to improve accuracy of measurements has had a new impetus in recent years because of the need for improved weather prediction and climate monitoring. The highlights of this cooperation and strategies to achieve SI traceability and improve accuracy for optical satellite sensor data are summarized.
Datla, R.
, Weinreb, M.
, Rice, J.
, Johnson, B.
, Shirley, E.
and Cao, C.
(2014),
Optical Passive Sensor Calibration for Satellite Remote Sensing and the Legacy of NOAA and NIST Cooperation, Journal of Research (NIST JRES), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/jres.119.008, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=914026
(Accessed October 2, 2025)