The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) conducted the field experiment for the vicarious calibration of ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) onboard Terra satellite from September 20 to 27, 2010. The vicarious calibration is a radiometric calibration method for satellite sensors by the radiative transfer model simulation based on the ground-based measurements of the surface and atmosphere on the target. The dry lakes in the desert regions of Nevada and California (U.S.), such as Ivanpah Playa, Railroad Valley and Alkali Lake, are used as the vicarious calibration sites. In the field experiment, the surface reflectance is measured by the spectroradiometer, and the atmospheric properties, such as ozone, water vapor, and aerosol, are measured by the ozonometer and skyradiometer. In addition, the field experiment for the vicarious calibration of RSI (Remote Sensing Instrument) onboard Formosat-2 satellite launched by Taiwan was also carried out. Synchronous measurements with the overpass time of ASTER/Terra and RSI/Formosat-2 on scheduled days were performed successfully.
