CAR_DISCOVERAQ_BRDF_2: Bidirectional Reflectance Measurements for Air Quality

DISCOVER-AQ, a NASA Earth Venture mission, collected bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) measurements over Colorado in 2014. The CAR instrument aboard a NASA P-3 aircraft obtained these observations over agricultural and urban areas. This data set includes bidirectional reflectance factor values at varying spectral bands to support satellite monitoring of air pollution.

Use Cases

• Validate satellite-derived surface reflectance models based on airborne BRDF measurements.
• Improve air quality forecast models based on surface condition data relevant to pollution.
• Study the optical properties of agricultural and urban landscapes based on multi-spectral reflectance factors.
• Determine sources and fluctuations of atmospheric pollutants based on column and vertically resolved observations.

Strengths

• Data originates from the NASA DISCOVER-AQ mission, an authoritative Earth Venture program.
• Includes measurements over distinct land cover types (agricultural and urban areas) in Colorado.
• Provides bidirectional reflectance factor values across multiple spectral bands.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic and temporal bias inherent to the 2014 Colorado campaign.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Measurements obtained by the CAR instrument flown aboard a NASA P-3 aircraft.

Time Range

2014

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 06:17:26.032513; freshness should be verified

Geography

Colorado, USA