OTTER: Ground-Based Atmospheric Optical Thickness Data

Field sun photometer data from 1990 through 1991 provides quantitative atmospheric correction for remotely sensed forest reflectance and radiance. The dataset, known as Optical Thickness Data: Ground (OTTER), was collected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It supports the calibration of satellite and airborne remote sensing data over forested areas.

Use Cases

• [Calibrating satellite imagery] based on [ground-measured atmospheric optical depth]
• [Validating atmospheric correction algorithms] based on [sun photometer field data]
• [Studying temporal changes in atmospheric aerosols] based on [data collected from 1990-1991]
• [Improving forest reflectance models] based on [corrected radiance data]

Strengths

• Data collection is attributed to a major space agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
• The dataset has a precisely defined temporal coverage from 1990 through 1991.
• It is available on multiple platforms (Data.gov and NASA Earthdata), indicating established use and importance.

Limitations

• Column names and the exact data structure are unknown, limiting immediate usability.
• There is a significant conflict in the 'last updated' metadata, with one source listing 1991 and another listing a future date of 2026.
• The license is ambiguously listed as 'other-license-specified' without clear terms.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Field measurements using sun photometers.

Time Range

1990 through 1991

Freshness

1991-06-10 23:59:59.999000