Infrared Technology, Volume. 47, Issue 3, 272(2025)

A Simplified Radiative Transfer Calculation Scheme for Transmittance in Satellite Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing

Shikai ZHOU1,2, Zhengqiang LI2,3, Qian YAO2,4、*, Wenfei WU2,5,6, Yanqing XIE7, and Cheng FAN2
Author Affiliations
  • 1College of Geomatics Science and Technology, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
  • 2State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Satellite Remote Sensing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
  • 3Aerospace Information Technology University, Jinan 250200, China
  • 4University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • 5School Of Energy And Power Engineering, Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, China
  • 6Key Laboratory of Fluid and Machinery and Engineering, Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, China
  • 7Shanghai Institute of Satellite Engineering, Shanghai 200240, China
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    Atmospheric radiative transfer in the thermal infrared spectrum is influenced by various factors, and atmospheric transmittance is a critical parameter. Currently, researching atmospheric transmittance within 8-14 μm thermal infrared spectrum remains challenging because of numerous elusive input background parameters. Consequently, a simplified parameterization scheme for thermal infrared radiative transfer in satellite remote sensing is proposed. Using the moderate resolution atmospheric transmission (MODTRAN) model, the impact parameters of atmospheric transmittance were quantitatively simulated and analyzed, to identify key parameters, leading to the development of a MODTRAN-model-based simplified scheme. Atmospheric transmittance values calculated by the MODTRAN model and simplified scheme were compared and validated at the central wavelengths of the two thermal infrared channels of a medium resolution spectral imager-LL (MERSI-LL). The R2 value exceeded 0.99, and the root mean-square error (RMSE) was below 0.007458, indicating high accuracy. The simplified scheme relies solely on the view zenith angle and water vapor column, eliminating the need for CO2, O3, and aerosol optical depth. Compared with the MODTRAN model, the simplified scheme reduces the number of input parameters and enhances computational efficiency. This study offers theoretical support for atmospheric correction of thermal infrared data.

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    ZHOU Shikai, LI Zhengqiang, YAO Qian, WU Wenfei, XIE Yanqing, FAN Cheng. A Simplified Radiative Transfer Calculation Scheme for Transmittance in Satellite Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing[J]. Infrared Technology, 2025, 47(3): 272

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    Paper Information

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    Received: Mar. 7, 2024

    Accepted: Apr. 18, 2025

    Published Online: Apr. 18, 2025

    The Author Email: YAO Qian (yaoqianrs@163.com)

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