Cloud detection and classification for earth radiation budget experiments

Claudia J. Stubenrauch; Genevieve M. Seze; Noelle A. Scott; Alain Chedin; Michel Desbois; Robert S. Kandel

doi:10.1117/12.154897

15 September 1993 Cloud detection and classification for earth radiation budget experiments

Claudia J. Stubenrauch, Genevieve M. Seze, Noelle A. Scott, Alain Chedin, Michel Desbois, Robert S. Kandel

Proceedings Volume 1934, Passive Infrared Remote Sensing of Clouds and the Atmosphere; (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.154897
Event: Optical Engineering and Photonics in Aerospace Sensing, 1993, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

In order to get a better understanding of the influence of clouds on the Earth's energy budget, one needs a cloud classification taking into account cloud height, thickness, and cloud cover. The radiometer ScaRaB (scanner for radiation balance), launched in 1993, has in addition to the two broad-band channels (0.2 - 4 micrometers and 0.2 - 50 micrometers ) necessary for earth radiation budget (ERB) measurements, two narrow-band channels (0.5 - 0.7 micrometers and 10.5 - 12.5 micrometers ) in order to improve cloud detection. Most automatic cloud classifications have been developed with measurements of very good spatial resolution (200 m to 5 km). Earth radiation budget experiments, on the other hand, work at a spatial resolution of about 40 km (at nadir), and therefore we investigated a cloud classification algorithm adapted on this scale. The algorithm is based on the dynamic clustering method and uses co-located AVHRR-ERBE data, simulating the ScaRaB measurements. This cloud field classification is compared on one hand to results obtained by a well tested threshold algorithm using AVHRR (advanced very high resolution radiometer) measurements at reduced spatial resolution of 4 km and on the other hand to cloud parameters extracted from HIRS (high resolution infrared sounder)/MSU (microwave sounding unit) data. We find that classification of cloud fields is still possible at a resolution of 40 km, and by combining AVHRR, ERBE, and HIRS/MSU measurements one can undertake interesting studies on the influence of different cloud fields on the Earth radiation budget.

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Claudia J. Stubenrauch, Genevieve M. Seze, Noelle A. Scott, Alain Chedin, Michel Desbois, and Robert S. Kandel "Cloud detection and classification for earth radiation budget experiments", Proc. SPIE 1934, Passive Infrared Remote Sensing of Clouds and the Atmosphere, (15 September 1993); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.154897

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KEYWORDS

Clouds

Spatial resolution

Opacity

Algorithm development

Radiometry

Temperature metrology

Absorption

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