Comparison of Suomi NPP VIIRS and EOS MODIS Cloud Retrieval Products Using a Uniform Space-time Algorithm

The Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) segues the NASA Earth Observing System (EOS) program into the upcoming Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) program. In this transition, it is essential to provide not only data continuity, but also data product consistency. To ensure a continuous and consistent cloud climate record, a primary goal is to analyze the differences between the Suomi NPP VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radioimeter Suite) and EOS MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) instruments. Differences in the instruments themselves, such as the channels used for retrieval, as well as the different assumptions used in retrieval algorithms, can lead to significant differences in cloud data products. To quantify these differences we present here the use of a uniform space-time algorithm, recently developed by Smith et al., for a direct grid-to-grid statistical comparison between the Suomi NPP VIIRS and EOS MODIS cloud products.