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Evaluation of satellite dust detection algorithms in the Middle East region

Evaluation of satellite dust detection algorithms in the Middle East region
Evaluation of satellite dust detection algorithms in the Middle East region
In the last 15 years, the frequency, spatial extent, and intensity of dust storms have increased and it is one of the main continuously occurring environmental hazard in the Middle East region. Since dust storms generally cover a large spatial extent and are highly dynamic, satellite Earth Observation (EO) is a key tool for detecting their occurrence, identifying their origin, and monitoring their transport and state. A variety of satellite dust detection algorithms have been developed to identify dust emissions sources and dust plumes once entrained in the atmosphere. This paper evaluates the performance of five widely applied dust detection algorithms: the Brightness Temperature Difference (BTD), D-parameter, Normalized Difference Dust Index (NDDI), Thermal-Infrared Dust Index (TDI) and the Middle East Dust Index (MEDI). These algorithms are applied to Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data to detect dust-contaminated pixels during three significant dust events in 2007 in the Middle East region that originated from sources in Iraq, Syria and Saudi Arabia. The results indicate that all methods have a comparable performance in detecting dust-contaminated pixels during the three dust events with an average detection rate (between all algorithms) of 85%. However, substantial differences exist in their ability to distinguish dust from clouds and the land surface, which resulted in large errors of commission. Direct validation of these algorithms with observations from seven Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) stations in the region found an average false detection rate (between all algorithms) of 89.6%. Although the algorithms performed well in detecting the dust-contaminated pixels their high false detection rate means it is challenging to apply these algorithms in operational context.
0143-1161
1-26
Bin Abdulwahed, Abdullah
160de907-51db-4c3d-b906-2f87635e4999
Dash, Jadunandan
51468afb-3d56-4d3a-aace-736b63e9fac8
Roberts, Gareth
fa1fc728-44bf-4dc2-8a66-166034093ef2
Bin Abdulwahed, Abdullah
160de907-51db-4c3d-b906-2f87635e4999
Dash, Jadunandan
51468afb-3d56-4d3a-aace-736b63e9fac8
Roberts, Gareth
fa1fc728-44bf-4dc2-8a66-166034093ef2

Bin Abdulwahed, Abdullah, Dash, Jadunandan and Roberts, Gareth (2018) Evaluation of satellite dust detection algorithms in the Middle East region. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 1-26. (doi:10.1080/01431161.2018.1524589).

Record type: Article

Abstract

In the last 15 years, the frequency, spatial extent, and intensity of dust storms have increased and it is one of the main continuously occurring environmental hazard in the Middle East region. Since dust storms generally cover a large spatial extent and are highly dynamic, satellite Earth Observation (EO) is a key tool for detecting their occurrence, identifying their origin, and monitoring their transport and state. A variety of satellite dust detection algorithms have been developed to identify dust emissions sources and dust plumes once entrained in the atmosphere. This paper evaluates the performance of five widely applied dust detection algorithms: the Brightness Temperature Difference (BTD), D-parameter, Normalized Difference Dust Index (NDDI), Thermal-Infrared Dust Index (TDI) and the Middle East Dust Index (MEDI). These algorithms are applied to Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data to detect dust-contaminated pixels during three significant dust events in 2007 in the Middle East region that originated from sources in Iraq, Syria and Saudi Arabia. The results indicate that all methods have a comparable performance in detecting dust-contaminated pixels during the three dust events with an average detection rate (between all algorithms) of 85%. However, substantial differences exist in their ability to distinguish dust from clouds and the land surface, which resulted in large errors of commission. Direct validation of these algorithms with observations from seven Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) stations in the region found an average false detection rate (between all algorithms) of 89.6%. Although the algorithms performed well in detecting the dust-contaminated pixels their high false detection rate means it is challenging to apply these algorithms in operational context.

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Accepted/In Press date: 6 September 2018
e-pub ahead of print date: 16 October 2018

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 425286
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/425286
ISSN: 0143-1161
PURE UUID: f610aca0-e202-4fc8-ab5b-0da103758d16
ORCID for Jadunandan Dash: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-5444-2109
ORCID for Gareth Roberts: ORCID iD orcid.org/0009-0007-3431-041X

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Date deposited: 12 Oct 2018 16:30
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 07:09

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Contributors

Author: Abdullah Bin Abdulwahed
Author: Jadunandan Dash ORCID iD
Author: Gareth Roberts ORCID iD

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