Mariel D. Friberg

About

Mariel D. Friberg is an atmospheric scientist whose research focuses on satellite-based aerosol remote sensing, with a particular emphasis on high-latitude and Arctic environments. Her work is critical for understanding how aerosols—tiny particles suspended in the atmosphere—affect climate, air quality, and environmental change in regions undergoing rapid transformation. In a highly cited 2020 study, Friberg assessed the suitability of MODIS Collection 6.1 aerosol optical depth (AOD) data for monitoring changes linked to increased Arctic shipping, validating satellite retrievals against coastal AERONET and ship-based MAN measurements. She further advanced the field by systematically comparing AOD products from MODIS, MAIAC, CALIOP, and GOES across Arctic spatial and temporal scales. Friberg is also the lead developer of MAGARA (Multi-Angle Geostationary Aerosol Retrieval Algorithm), a novel algorithm that leverages the frequent, multi-angle observations from GOES-16/17/18 Advanced Baseline Imagers to improve aerosol characterization. Her work directly supports environmental monitoring in data-sparse polar regions and enhances the utility of geostationary satellites for atmospheric science.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Using MAN and Coastal AERONET Measurements to Assess the Suitability of MODIS C6.1 Aerosol Optical Depth for Monitoring Changes from Increased Arctic Shipping

   4 citations · 2020
2. 2
   June to October Aerosol Optical Depth over the Arctic at Various Spatial and Temporal Scales in MODIS, MAIAC, CALIOP and GOES Data

   3 citations · 2023
3. 3
   MAGARA: a Multi-Angle Geostationary Aerosol Retrieval Algorithm

   2 citations · 2024
4. 4
   MAGARA: A Multi-Angle Geostationary Aerosol Retrieval Algorithm

   2 citations · 2023

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links