Comparison of the Infrared Surface Emissivity Model (ISEM) with a Physical Emissivity Model

Abstract

Accurate models of surface emissivity are important for interpreting satellite radiance observations. Surface emissivity depends on the satellite zenith angle, roughness, polarization, and refractive index of the surface. The effects of the roughness parameter on emissivity have not been studied thoroughly. By using an infrared geostationary satellite observation and a physical model based on the radiative transfer equation, the forward emissivity model and physical emissivity model are validated in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. First, the unpolarized emissivity at a given view angle and a wavelength of 10.8 ?m in the thermal infrared spectral region is decomposed for the clear sky. The refractive index of the sea surface is quantitatively retrieved using the inversion of Fresnel equations. The refractive index of the sea surface derived from the physical emissivity exhibits a reasonable range within the infrared wavelength. The result of this investigation can be applied to the land emissivity model, which has not been studied thoroughly.