Abstract. The Earth Explorer mission Earth Clouds, Aerosols and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) will not only provide profile information on aerosols but will also deliver a horizontal context to it through measurements by its Multi-Spectral Imager (MSI). The columnar aerosol product relying on these passive signals is called M-AOT. Its main parameters are aerosol optical thickness (AOT) at 670 nm over ocean and, where possible land, and at 865 nm over ocean. Here, the algorithm and assumptions behind it are presented. Further, first examples of product parameters are given based on applying the algorithm to simulated EarthCARE test data and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Level-1 data. Comparisons to input fields used for simulations, to the official MODIS aerosol product, AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) and to Maritime Aerosol Network (MAN) show an overall reasonable agreement. Over ocean correlations are 0.98 (simulated scenes), 0.96 (compared to MYD04) and 0.9 (compared to MAN). Over land correlations are 0.62 (simulated scenes), 0.87 (compared to MYD04) and 0.77 (compared to AERONET). A concluding discussion will focus on future improvements necessary and envisioned to enhance the product.

中文翻译：

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EarthCARE 多光谱成像仪的气溶胶光学深度反演：M-AOT 产品

摘要。地球探索者任务地球云、气溶胶和辐射探索者 (EarthCARE) 不仅将提供气溶胶的剖面信息，还将通过其多光谱成像仪 (MSI) 的测量为其提供水平环境。依赖于这些被动信号的柱状气溶胶产物称为 M-AOT。其主要参数是海洋上空 670 nm 处的气溶胶光学厚度 (AOT)，如果可能，陆地上空，以及海洋上空 865 nm 处的气溶胶光学厚度 (AOT)。此处介绍了其背后的算法和假设。此外，基于将算法应用于模拟 EarthCARE 测试数据和中分辨率成像光谱仪 (MODIS) 一级数据，给出了产品参数的第一个示例。与用于模拟的输入字段、官方 MODIS 气溶胶产品的比较，气溶胶机器人网络 (AERONET) 和海事气溶胶网络 (MAN) 显示出总体合理的协议。海洋相关性为 0.98（模拟场景）、0.96（与 MYD04 相比）和 0.9（与 MAN 相比）。陆上相关性为 0.62（模拟场景）、0.87（与 MYD04 相比）和 0.77（与 AERONET 相比）。最后的讨论将集中在未来必要的改进和设想的改进产品上。