Gerard van Harten
Papers
1
Total Citations
96
H-Index
1
About
Gerard van Harten is a leading figure in atmospheric remote sensing, specializing in the retrieval of aerosol properties and land surface characteristics through advanced polarimetric imaging. His most impactful work centers on the Airborne Multiangle SpectroPolarimetric Imager (AirMSPI), a NASA instrument flown aboard the ER-2 high-altitude aircraft since 2010. Van Harten’s landmark 2017 paper, cited 96 times, introduced a coupled retrieval algorithm that simultaneously derives aerosol microphysical properties and land surface reflection from AirMSPI’s multiangle, multi-spectral radiance and polarization data. This innovation significantly improves the accuracy of aerosol characterization—critical for climate modeling and air quality studies—by disentangling atmospheric and surface signals. His contributions have advanced the use of polarimetry in Earth observation, enabling more precise monitoring of particulate matter and surface albedo. Van Harten’s work is widely recognized for bridging instrument design and data interpretation, with his methods influencing subsequent satellite missions. His research remains foundational for students and scientists tackling aerosol-cloud interactions and radiative forcing, demonstrating how multiangle polarimetry can unravel complex environmental processes.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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