Development and Evaluation of the Terrestrial Environmental Data Products from the Suomi NPP satellite

The algorithm development and product validation activities of the land surface data products, generated from Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) measurements on the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) satellite, are organized within a single coordinated team of the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) program. The six land products generated by the SNPP Interface Data Processing Segment (IDPS) include surface reflectance, vegetation index, surface albedo, land surface temperature, surface type and active fires. Following sensor activation, during the Early Orbit Check-out period, the emphasis was on performing analysis and providing feedback to support the stabilization of the VIIRS Sensor Data Record (SDR). During the Intensive Calibration and Validation period the activities focused increasingly on specific product performance evaluation and product improvement with a series of changes proposed for implementation in the IDPS. The work included correlative analysis with heritage products from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the NASA Earth Observing System (EOS) Terra and Aqua satellites, and with in situ and high resolution airborne and satellite observations. The JPSS Land Team works in close collaboration and coordination with the NASA SNPP Land Discipline Team and in particular with the Land PEATE (Product Evaluation and Test Element). Land products, starting with the fundamental and upstream products, have been achieving Beta maturity status, according to their own established performance and their dependencies on the VIIRS SDR, Cloud Mask and Aerosol Optical Thickness products