Characteristics of tropical cirrus cloud optical thickness fields using MODIS level-3 data

Kerry Meyer; Ping Yang; Bo-Cai Gao; Warren Wiscombe

doi:10.1117/12.577916

30 December 2004 Characteristics of tropical cirrus cloud optical thickness fields using MODIS level-3 data

Kerry Meyer, Ping Yang, Bo-Cai Gao, Warren Wiscombe

Proceedings Volume 5652, Passive Optical Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and Clouds IV; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.577916
Event: Fourth International Asia-Pacific Environmental Remote Sensing Symposium 2004: Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere, Ocean, Environment, and Space, 2004, Honolulu, Hawai'i, United States

Abstract

Cirrus clouds have been identified as one of the most uncertain components in climate research. They are located at high altitudes (near the tropopause), are frequently optically thin in nature, and are composed of non-spherical ice crystals. In this paper, we detail a method for inferring tropical cirrus cloud optical thickness from MODIS level-3 derived cirrus reflectance and solar/satellite view geometry data. We then demonstrate the applicability of this method using an independent MODIS level-3 data file from NASA s Aqua satellite to obtain the average daily tropical cirrus optical thickness. A preliminary study has also been conducted to ascertain the general characteristics of tropical cirrus cover as a whole using two consecutive years of Aqua MODIS global daily data. This study includes the frequency of occurrence (percentage of days with cirrus cover) and the spatial distribution of optical thickness fields. The retrieval method described here is complimentary to the standard operational MODIS cloud products (included in level-3 data) for the case of tropical cirrus clouds.

Citation Download Citation

Kerry Meyer, Ping Yang, Bo-Cai Gao, and Warren Wiscombe "Characteristics of tropical cirrus cloud optical thickness fields using MODIS level-3 data", Proc. SPIE 5652, Passive Optical Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and Clouds IV, (30 December 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.577916

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available