Abstract. MODIS (MOderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) retrievals of aerosol optical depth (AOD) are biased over urban areas, primarily because the reflectance characteristics of urban surfaces are different than that assumed by the retrieval algorithm. Specifically, the operational "darktarget" retrieval is tuned towards vegetated (dark) surfaces and assumes a spectral relationship to estimate the surface reflectance in blue and red wavelengths. From airborne measurements of surface reflectance over the city of Zhongshan, China, were collected that could replace the assumptions within the MODIS retrieval algorithm. The subsequent impact was tested upon two versions of the operational algorithm, Collections 5 and 6 (C5 and C6). AOD retrieval results of the operational and modified algorithms were compared for a specific case study over Zhongshan to show minor differences between them all. However, the Zhongshanbased spectral surface relationship was applied to a much larger urban sample, specifically to the MODIS data taken over Beijing between 2010 and 2014. These results were compared directly to ground-based AERONET (AErosol RObotic NETwork) measurements of AOD. A significant reduction of the differences between the AOD retrieved by the modified algorithms and AERONET was found, whereby the mean difference decreased from 0.27 ± 0.14 for the operational C5 and 0.19±0.12 for the operational C6 to 0.10±0.15 and −0.02 ± 0.17 by using the modified C5 and C6 retrievals. Since the modified algorithms assume a higher contribution by the surface to the total measured reflectance from MODIS, consequently the overestimation of AOD by the operational methods is reduced. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the MODIS AOD retrieval with respect to different surface types was investigated. Radiative transfer simulations were performed to model reflectances at top of atmosphere for predefined aerosol properties. The reflectance data were used as input for the retrieval methods. It was shown that the operational MODIS AOD retrieval over land reproduces the AOD reference input of 0.85 for dark surface types (retrieved AOD = 0.87 (C5)). An overestimation of AOD = 0.99 is found for urban surfaces, whereas the modified C5 algorithm shows a good performance with a retrieved value of AOD = 0.86.

Abstract. MODIS retrievals of the aerosol optical depth (AOD) are biased over urban areas, where surface reflectance is not well characterized. Since the operational MODIS aerosol retrieval for dark targets assumes fixed spectral slopes to calculate the surface reflectance at 0.47 μm, the algorithm may fail in urban areas with different spectral characteristics of the surface reflectance. To investigate this bias we have implemented variable spectral slopes into the operational MODIS aerosol algorithms of Collection 5 (C5) and C6. The variation of slopes is based on airborne measurements of surface reflectances over the city of Zhongshan, China. AOD retrieval results of the operational and the modified algorithms were compared for a MODIS measurement over Zhongshan. For this case slightly lower AOD values were derived using the modified algorithm. The retrieval methods were additionally applied to MODIS data of the Beijing area for a period between 2010–2014 when also AERONET data were available. A reduction of the differences between the AOD retrieved using the modified C5 algorithm and AERONET was found, whereby the mean difference from 0.31 ± 0.11 for the operational C5 and 0.18 ± 0.12 for the operational C6 where reduced to a mean difference of 0.09 ± 0.18 by using the modified C5 retrieval. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the MODIS AOD retrieval for several surface types was investigated. Radiative transfer simulations were performed to model reflectances at top of atmosphere for predefined aerosol properties. The reflectances were used as input for the retrieval methods. It is shown that the operational MODIS AOD retrieval over land reproduces the AOD reference input of 0.85 for dark surface types [retrieved AOD = 0.87 (C5)]. An overestimation of AOD = 0.99 is found for urban surfaces, whereby the modified C5 algorithm shows a good performance with a retrieved value of AOD = 0.86.

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