ERBE data inversion

Instruments on board the (presently two) satellites of the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) are collecting data for determining monthly averaged radiation exitances at the top of the atmosphere (TOA). To achieve the accuracy desired of the mission, radiances at the satellite are first calculated, with allowance made of sensor optical properties and the directionality of the TOA radiation field. The subsatellite surface type is classified to adjust for albedo changes and correction values are added for the types of cloud cover detected.