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Re: [cf-satellite] [CF-metadata] standard name question - "toa_bidirectional_reflectance"

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  • To: Tom Whittaker <whittaker@xxxxxxxx>
  • Subject: Re: [cf-satellite] [CF-metadata] standard name question - "toa_bidirectional_reflectance"
  • From: John Graybeal <jgraybeal@xxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2012 11:52:15 -0700
If no one can provide a reasonably knowledgeable response, proposing a new 
definition would (a) potentially make the most desirable 
clarification/modification and (b) elicit any conflicts from anyone on the 
CF-metadata list.  One of the list minders will undoubtedly weigh in on this 
when they have a chance.

On Jun 27, 2012, at 07:43, Tom Whittaker wrote:

> Randy --
> 
> This is a tough question, since there is a lack of detail in most of
> the "standard_name" entries that I looked at.  It seems to me that
> what you want to do is to make certain that the user of the data
> understands exactly what was taken into account (and what was
> not)...which tells me this does not have to be a "machine readable"
> description.  I see a few possible options:
> 
> 1. create a new standard_name which clarifies these matters
> 2. modify the current one (if appropriate...?)
> 3. use either the long_name or the "comment" to provide the particulars
> 
> Also, your question about who (or what programs) might be currently
> using this is probably impossible to answer -- but I would bet at
> least the person who made the entry initially and perhaps they can be
> contacted.
> 
> I hope this helps get others to provide some input on this issue...
> 
> tom
> 
> On Tue, Jun 26, 2012 at 5:44 PM, Randy Horne <rhorne@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> Folks:
>> 
>> I am working the GOES-R program.  We have a few very specific questions on
>> the use of a standard name (toa_bidirectional_reflectance):
>> 
>> The top of atmosphere (TOA) reflectance is a key product from satellite
>> observations but is
>> often ambiguous as a result of the many non-standard definitions used
>> throughout the
>> community. The CF standard name table includes
>> "toa_bidirectional_reflectance" as a unitless
>> quantity that is the ratio of the reflected to incident energy. However, the
>> details of this
>> quantity are not completely clear.
>> 
>> (1)
>> Does it include an integration of solid angle - i.e., introducing a factor
>> of PI for Lambertian surface? Does it include or exclude the cosine
>> (SZA) factor that is often omitted from imagery (and that allows  a direct
>> scaling from radiance to
>> reflectance)?
>> 
>> (2) What programs have already adopted the "toa_bidirectional_reflectance"
>> and how can one ensure that the convention is being used consistently with
>> respect to the above questions?
>> 
>> very respectfully,
>> 
>> randy
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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>> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Tom Whittaker
> University of Wisconsin-Madison
> Space Science & Engineering Center (SSEC)
> Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS)
> 1225 W. Dayton Street
> Madison, WI  53706  USA
> ph: +1 608 262 2759
> _______________________________________________
> CF-metadata mailing list
> CF-metadata@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> http://mailman.cgd.ucar.edu/mailman/listinfo/cf-metadata
> 


----------------
John Graybeal    <mailto:jgraybeal@xxxxxxxx>     phone: 858-534-2162
Product Manager
Ocean Observatories Initiative Cyberinfrastructure Project: 
http://ci.oceanobservatories.org
Marine Metadata Interoperability Project: http://marinemetadata.org









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