Cloud Base Height Estimation from ISCCP Cloud-Type Classification Applied to A-Train Data

Cloud base height (CBH) is an important cloud macro parameter that plays a key role in global radiation balance and aviation flight. Building on a previous algorithm, CBH is estimated by combining measurements from CloudSat/CALIPSO and MODIS based on the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Pro...

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Main Authors: Yao Liang, Xuejin Sun, Steven D. Miller, Haoran Li, Yongbo Zhou, Riwei Zhang, Shaohui Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2017-01-01
Series:Advances in Meteorology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/3231719
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author Yao Liang
Xuejin Sun
Steven D. Miller
Haoran Li
Yongbo Zhou
Riwei Zhang
Shaohui Li
author_facet Yao Liang
Xuejin Sun
Steven D. Miller
Haoran Li
Yongbo Zhou
Riwei Zhang
Shaohui Li
author_sort Yao Liang
collection DOAJ
description Cloud base height (CBH) is an important cloud macro parameter that plays a key role in global radiation balance and aviation flight. Building on a previous algorithm, CBH is estimated by combining measurements from CloudSat/CALIPSO and MODIS based on the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) cloud-type classification and a weighted distance algorithm. Additional constraints on cloud water path (CWP) and cloud top height (CTH) are introduced. The combined algorithm takes advantage of active and passive remote sensing to effectively estimate CBH in a wide-swath imagery where the cloud vertical structure details are known only along the curtain slice of the nonscanning active sensors. Comparisons between the estimated and observed CBHs show high correlation. The coefficient of association (R2) is 0.8602 with separation distance between donor and recipient points in the range of 0 to 100 km and falls off to 0.5856 when the separation distance increases to the range of 401 to 600 km. Also, differences are mainly within 1 km when separation distance ranges from 0 km to 600 km. The CBH estimation method was applied to the 3D cloud structure of Tropical Cyclone Bill, and the method is further assessed by comparing CTH estimated by the algorithm with the MODIS CTH product.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1687-9309
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language English
publishDate 2017-01-01
publisher Wiley
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series Advances in Meteorology
spelling doaj-art-42f75bd69eed4a22b9c09b6a0ae963342025-08-20T03:35:54ZengWileyAdvances in Meteorology1687-93091687-93172017-01-01201710.1155/2017/32317193231719Cloud Base Height Estimation from ISCCP Cloud-Type Classification Applied to A-Train DataYao Liang0Xuejin Sun1Steven D. Miller2Haoran Li3Yongbo Zhou4Riwei Zhang5Shaohui Li6College of Meteorology and Oceanography, National University of Defense Technology, Nanjing 211101, ChinaCollege of Meteorology and Oceanography, National University of Defense Technology, Nanjing 211101, ChinaCooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USACollege of Meteorology and Oceanography, National University of Defense Technology, Nanjing 211101, ChinaCollege of Meteorology and Oceanography, National University of Defense Technology, Nanjing 211101, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Aerospace Dynamics, Xi’an 710043, ChinaCollege of Meteorology and Oceanography, National University of Defense Technology, Nanjing 211101, ChinaCloud base height (CBH) is an important cloud macro parameter that plays a key role in global radiation balance and aviation flight. Building on a previous algorithm, CBH is estimated by combining measurements from CloudSat/CALIPSO and MODIS based on the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) cloud-type classification and a weighted distance algorithm. Additional constraints on cloud water path (CWP) and cloud top height (CTH) are introduced. The combined algorithm takes advantage of active and passive remote sensing to effectively estimate CBH in a wide-swath imagery where the cloud vertical structure details are known only along the curtain slice of the nonscanning active sensors. Comparisons between the estimated and observed CBHs show high correlation. The coefficient of association (R2) is 0.8602 with separation distance between donor and recipient points in the range of 0 to 100 km and falls off to 0.5856 when the separation distance increases to the range of 401 to 600 km. Also, differences are mainly within 1 km when separation distance ranges from 0 km to 600 km. The CBH estimation method was applied to the 3D cloud structure of Tropical Cyclone Bill, and the method is further assessed by comparing CTH estimated by the algorithm with the MODIS CTH product.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/3231719
spellingShingle Yao Liang
Xuejin Sun
Steven D. Miller
Haoran Li
Yongbo Zhou
Riwei Zhang
Shaohui Li
Cloud Base Height Estimation from ISCCP Cloud-Type Classification Applied to A-Train Data
Advances in Meteorology
title Cloud Base Height Estimation from ISCCP Cloud-Type Classification Applied to A-Train Data
title_full Cloud Base Height Estimation from ISCCP Cloud-Type Classification Applied to A-Train Data
title_fullStr Cloud Base Height Estimation from ISCCP Cloud-Type Classification Applied to A-Train Data
title_full_unstemmed Cloud Base Height Estimation from ISCCP Cloud-Type Classification Applied to A-Train Data
title_short Cloud Base Height Estimation from ISCCP Cloud-Type Classification Applied to A-Train Data
title_sort cloud base height estimation from isccp cloud type classification applied to a train data
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/3231719
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