During the summer of 2001, NASA's Cloud Absorption Radiometer (CAR) obtained measurement of ocean angular distribution of reflected radiation or BRDF (bidirectional reflectance distribution function) aboard the University of Washington Convair CV-580 research aircraft under cloud-free conditions. The measurements took place over the Atlantic Ocean off the eastern seaboard of the U.S. in the vicinity of the Chesapeake Light Tower and at nearby NOAA Buoy Stations. The measurements were in support of CLAMS, (Chesapeake Lighthouse and Aircraft Measurements for Satellites), field campaign that was primarily designed to validate and improve NASAÕs Earth Observing System (EOS) satellite data products being derived from three sensors: MODIS, MISR, and CERES). Because of the high resolution of the CAR measurements and its high sensitivity to detect weak ocean signals against a noisy background, results of radiance field above the ocean are seen in unprecedented detail. The study also attempts to validate the widely used Cox-Munk model for predicting reflectance from a rough ocean surface.

Charles K. Gatebe 1,2; Michael D. King 2; Alexei I. Lyapustin 1,2
G. Thomas Arnold 3,2; and Jens Redemann 4

1-Goddard Earth Sciences and Technology Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
2-NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
3-L-3 Communications Government Services, Inc., Vienna, VA
4-Bay Area Environmental Research Institute, Sonoma, CA