Global validation of the NOAA/NESDIS second generation aerosol retrieval algorithm with AERONET data

The NOAA/NESDIS operational 2nd generation aerosol optical thickness retrieval algorithm has only been validated for limited regions and periods from ship campaigns in the tropical and north Atlantic. Global scale validation is necessary for a complete understanding of its performance as well as to provide recommendations for future algorithm improvements and to serve as a basis for testing them. In this paper, the global validation is performed at selected AERONET stations (including Andros Island, Bahrain, Bermuda, Dry Tortugas, Kaashidhoo, and Lanai) for both NOAA- 14/AVHRR-AEROBS data and TRMM-CERES/VIRS-SSF data in 1998