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Abstract
The over three-decade-long data record from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) is ideal for studies of the Earth's changing climate. However, the lack of on-board calibration requires that the solar channels be recalibrated after launch. Numerous calibration studies have been conducted, but significant differences remain among the calibrations. This study is one effort to outline a path towards consensus calibration of the AVHRR solar channels. The characteristics of the polar orbiting satellites bearing the AVHRRs, the AVHRR instruments and data are described as they are related to calibration. A review of past and current calibration studies is also presented and examples of their lack of consensus shown. A list of consensus items is then provided that, if followed by the AVHRR calibration community, should bring the various calibration methods to within the small percent difference required for long-term climate detection.
Acknowledgments
We thank the members of the AVHRR calibration community who shared their most recent efforts with us and answered all of our questions. We also wish to thank the anonymous reviewers for their helpful suggestions that improved this paper. This work was funded by NOAA grant NA07OAR4310199.
The views, opinions, and findings contained in this report are those of the author(s) and should not be construed as an official National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or US Government position, policy, or decision.