Performance and evaluation of remote sensing satellites for monitoring dust weather in East Asia

Abstract. Satellite remote sensing provides a unique tool for monitoring dust weather in East Asia in real time and accurately. However, it is still challenging whether these data can effectively and accurately capture the dynamic process of dust weather. Meanwhile, capability and performances of different satellite remote sensing products are not clear in monitoring dust weather. In response to the current problems, this study used PM10 concentration data from environmental monitoring stations to evaluate the continuity, accuracy and stability of five kinds of satellite remote sensing aerosol products (FY4A dust score products (DST) and infrared difference dust index (IDDI), MODIS Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), Sentinel-5P absorbing aerosol index (AAI) and Himawari-8 AOD) for monitoring and studying dust weather in East Asia. The results showed that the daily spatial distribution of atmospheric dust presented by the five aerosol products had good consistency. In particular, the AAI product was not only better than other aerosol products in depicting the continuity of the spatial distribution of atmospheric dust, but also made up for the inability of other products in obtaining dust information under the clouds. The ground station PM10 data verification showed that the atmospheric dust POCD of MODIS AOD, Himawari-8 AOD, Sentinel-5P AAI, FY4A IDDI and DST products during the entire dust weather process were 91 %, 35.5 %, 24.4 %, 15.8 % and 14.6 respectively. Under the same observation time and space conditions, the atmospheric dust POCD of MODIS AOD, Himawari-8 AOD, FY4A IDDI and DST, and Sentinel-5P AAI products were 85.7 %, 43.8 %, 37.3 %, 37.3 % and 5.6 %, respectively. Overall, the MODIS AOD product performed best in monitoring dust weather in East Asia with high accuracy, and then the Himawari-8 AOD product.