Study of Atmospheric Polarization with Ground-Based Robotic Hyperspectral Measurements and HARP2 Data Analysis

Abstract

Atmospheric polarization offers insight into air quality monitoring and satellite image quality, as it can impact polarization sensitivity and lead to image striping. This study evaluates polarization patterns produced by atmospheric scattering by enhancing and deploying a ground-based Robotic Hyperspectral Polarization Measurement System (RHPMS) in preparation for the calibration and validation of satellite observations. The measurement system, designed by NOAA/STAR and integrated by the University of Maryland's Cooperative Institute for Satellite Earth System Studies (CISESS), is composed of a telescope, polarimeter, spectrometer, optical fiber, and Raspberry Pi controller. Using Python to visualize and analyze hyperspectral data, the study examined polarization across wavelengths under clear-sky conditions. These ground-based findings were compared with satellite observations from the HARP2 polarimeter and Ocean Color Instrument (OCI) aboard NASA's PACE mission. The findings support the improvement of aerosol characterization and quantification for accurate atmospheric and climate research.