Advances and Limitations of Nighttime Dust Aerosol Optical Depth Retrieval Using VIIRS Day–Night Band

Traditionally, passive based remote sensing of aerosol optical depth in the visible has been limited to day only observations. The VIIRS Day-Night Band's (DNB) increased nighttime sensitivity has opened the door for nighttime observations. In this study, we discussed current retrieval techniques associated with nighttime retrievals of aerosol using VIIRS, (e.g., city-lights based retrieval) and explored alternative methods for nighttime aerosol retrievals with an emphasis on understanding the feasibility and limitations of applying VIIRS DNB data for nighttime aerosol retrievals, through evaluating against the newly available nighttime lunar-photometer observations.