Richard A. Hansell

Papers

Total Citations

1,224

H-Index

About

Richard A. Hansell is a leading figure in atmospheric remote sensing, with a primary focus on aerosol and cloud interactions. His work is instrumental in refining how we observe and understand particulate matter in the atmosphere, particularly over challenging bright-reflecting surfaces like deserts and urban areas. Hansell’s most significant contribution is his leadership in developing the second generation of the Enhanced Deep Blue aerosol retrieval algorithm for the MODIS instrument. This algorithm, detailed in his highly cited 2013 paper (over 1,200 citations), dramatically improved the accuracy of aerosol property retrievals over land, providing critical data for climate and air quality studies. Beyond this, he has tackled the persistent problem of cirrus cloud contamination in aerosol observations. His 2012 study, using collocated AERONET and Micro-Pulse Lidar Network data, established robust screening methods to distinguish thin, subvisual cirrus from aerosols, a vital step for ensuring data integrity. Hansell’s work is foundational for satellite-based environmental monitoring, directly impacting climate modeling and public health assessments by delivering cleaner, more reliable atmospheric data.