Evaluation of Himawari-8/AHI land surface reflectance at mid-latitudes using LEO sensors with off-nadir observation

Land-surface reflectance (LSR) is a basic physical retrieval in terrestrial monitoring. The potential for high-frequency surface product estimation was evident in third-generation Geostationary Earth Orbit (3rd-GEO) satellites, substantially improving spectral, spatial, and temporal resolutions. Intercomparisons with LSR products from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites have been employed as a common way to evaluate the LSRs of GEO satellites. However, in mid-latitude regions, comparing the LSR between two satellites is challenging due to constraints in the sun–target–sensor geometries. In this study, we proposed a method to obtain observations with consistent viewing and illumination conditions aligned with those of the Himawari-8/Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) at mid-latitudes, by utilizing forward and backward viewing cameras from LEO sensors, such as Terra/Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR). The reflectance intercomparison revealed that the estimated AHI LSR closely matched the LSR from MISR in the red and near-infrared (NIR) bands at latitudes higher than 30°N/S during 2018–2019, with correlation coefficient ( r ) greater than 0.8 and a relative root mean square error (RRMSE) below 25 %. The data accuracy in the NIR bands was higher than in the red band, as indicated by a lower RRMSE. The correlation was also stronger in non-forested regions compared to forested areas, with higher r values. Additionally, screening observation pairs based on the relative azimuth angle (RAA), which assumes rotational symmetry in LSR, was examined and proved effective for GEO–LEO intercomparisons. This RAA-matching criterion enables reflectance intercomparisons across a wide longitude range at mid-latitudes, including areas like mainland China and New Zealand, where ray-matching is not applicable. The reflectance consistency demonstrated by RAA matches was comparable to that of ray matches, although the RAA-matching is constrained by timing due to the solar location. The findings from this study have potential applications for other satellites. • GEO–LEO reflectance intercomparison by ray-matching was performed at mid-latitudes. • Forward/backward viewing contributed AHI–MISR ray-matched pairs at mid-latitudes. • Reflectance in the red-NIR bands from AHI and MISR demonstrated strong agreement. • Screening with relative azimuth angle proved effective for GEO–LEO intercomparison. • This method can be applied to consistent evaluations across other GEO satellite data.