Preliminary Study on Feasibility of a Specialized Ground Light Source for Improving the VIIRS DNB Low Light Calibration

As the growing interest in the use of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Day/Night Band (DNB) low light data, there is an urgent need to obtain high accuracy product at low radiances. Currently the low light calibration accuracy was previously estimated at a moderate 15% using extended sources while the long-term stability has yet to be characterized. This paper gives a new method to quantitative analysis DNB data by using a specialized ground light point source at night, which is active designed light sources at selected site (Baotou of Inner Mongolia, China). It presents a possibility to resolve the need for SI traceable active light sources to monitor the calibration stability, radiometric and geolocation accuracy, and point spread functions of the DNB.