A Preliminary Assessment of the VIIRS Cloud Top and Base Height Environmental Data Record Reprocessing
The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) satellite has been continuously providing global environmental data records (EDRs) for more than one decade since its launch in 2011. Recently, the VIIRS EDRs of cloud features have bee...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| author | Qian Liu Xianjun Hao Cheng-Zhi Zou Likun Wang John J. Qu Banghua Yan |
| author_facet | Qian Liu Xianjun Hao Cheng-Zhi Zou Likun Wang John J. Qu Banghua Yan |
| author_sort | Qian Liu |
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| description | The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) satellite has been continuously providing global environmental data records (EDRs) for more than one decade since its launch in 2011. Recently, the VIIRS EDRs of cloud features have been reprocessed using unified and consistent algorithm for selected periods to minimize or remove the inconsistencies due to different versions of retrieval algorithms as well as input VIIRS sensor data records (SDRs) adopted by different periods of operational EDRs. This study conducts the first simultaneous quality and accuracy assessment of reprocessed Cloud Top Height (CTH) and Cloud Base Height (CBH) products against both the operational VIIRS EDRs and corresponding cloud height measurements from the active sensors of NASA’s CloudSat-CALIPSO system. In general, the reprocessed CTH and CBH EDRs show strong similarities and correlations with CloudSat-CALIPSOs, with coefficients of determination (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msup><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">R</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>) reaching 0.82 and 0.77, respectively. Additionally, the reprocessed VIIRS cloud height products demonstrate significant improvements in retrieving high-altitude clouds and in sensitivity to cloud height dynamics. It outperforms the operational product in capturing very high CTHs exceeding 15 km and exhibits CBH probability patterns more closely aligned with CloudSat-CALIPSO measurements. This preliminary assessment enhances data applicability of remote sensing products for atmospheric and climate research, allowing for more accurate cloud measurements and advancing environmental monitoring efforts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cdff393e0cea41c080779a1bafda5b67 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj-art-cdff393e0cea41c080779a1bafda5b672025-08-20T02:43:02ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922025-03-01176103610.3390/rs17061036A Preliminary Assessment of the VIIRS Cloud Top and Base Height Environmental Data Record ReprocessingQian Liu0Xianjun Hao1Cheng-Zhi Zou2Likun Wang3John J. Qu4Banghua Yan5School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USAEnvironmental Science and Technology Center, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USAEnvironmental Science and Technology Center, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USAEarth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20740, USAEnvironmental Science and Technology Center, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USANOAA Center for Satellite Applications and Research, College Park, MD 20740, USAThe Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) satellite has been continuously providing global environmental data records (EDRs) for more than one decade since its launch in 2011. Recently, the VIIRS EDRs of cloud features have been reprocessed using unified and consistent algorithm for selected periods to minimize or remove the inconsistencies due to different versions of retrieval algorithms as well as input VIIRS sensor data records (SDRs) adopted by different periods of operational EDRs. This study conducts the first simultaneous quality and accuracy assessment of reprocessed Cloud Top Height (CTH) and Cloud Base Height (CBH) products against both the operational VIIRS EDRs and corresponding cloud height measurements from the active sensors of NASA’s CloudSat-CALIPSO system. In general, the reprocessed CTH and CBH EDRs show strong similarities and correlations with CloudSat-CALIPSOs, with coefficients of determination (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msup><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">R</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>) reaching 0.82 and 0.77, respectively. Additionally, the reprocessed VIIRS cloud height products demonstrate significant improvements in retrieving high-altitude clouds and in sensitivity to cloud height dynamics. It outperforms the operational product in capturing very high CTHs exceeding 15 km and exhibits CBH probability patterns more closely aligned with CloudSat-CALIPSO measurements. This preliminary assessment enhances data applicability of remote sensing products for atmospheric and climate research, allowing for more accurate cloud measurements and advancing environmental monitoring efforts.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/6/1036reprocessingVIIRSenvironmental data recordcloud top heightcloud base height |
| spellingShingle | Qian Liu Xianjun Hao Cheng-Zhi Zou Likun Wang John J. Qu Banghua Yan A Preliminary Assessment of the VIIRS Cloud Top and Base Height Environmental Data Record Reprocessing Remote Sensing reprocessing VIIRS environmental data record cloud top height cloud base height |
| title | A Preliminary Assessment of the VIIRS Cloud Top and Base Height Environmental Data Record Reprocessing |
| title_full | A Preliminary Assessment of the VIIRS Cloud Top and Base Height Environmental Data Record Reprocessing |
| title_fullStr | A Preliminary Assessment of the VIIRS Cloud Top and Base Height Environmental Data Record Reprocessing |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Preliminary Assessment of the VIIRS Cloud Top and Base Height Environmental Data Record Reprocessing |
| title_short | A Preliminary Assessment of the VIIRS Cloud Top and Base Height Environmental Data Record Reprocessing |
| title_sort | preliminary assessment of the viirs cloud top and base height environmental data record reprocessing |
| topic | reprocessing VIIRS environmental data record cloud top height cloud base height |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/6/1036 |
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