Advancing Cloud Classification Over the Tibetan Plateau: A New Algorithm Reveals Seasonal and Diurnal Variations
Abstract The cloud classification algorithm widely used in the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) tends to underestimate low clouds over the Tibetan Plateau (TP), often mistaking water clouds for high‐level clouds. To address this issue, we propose a new algorithm based on clo...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2024-07-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL109590 |
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| author | Fangling Bao Husi Letu Huazhe Shang Xu Ri Deliang Chen Tandong Yao Lesi Wei Chenqian Tang Shuai Yin Dabin Ji Yonghui Lei Chong Shi Yiran Peng Jiancheng Shi |
| author_facet | Fangling Bao Husi Letu Huazhe Shang Xu Ri Deliang Chen Tandong Yao Lesi Wei Chenqian Tang Shuai Yin Dabin Ji Yonghui Lei Chong Shi Yiran Peng Jiancheng Shi |
| author_sort | Fangling Bao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The cloud classification algorithm widely used in the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) tends to underestimate low clouds over the Tibetan Plateau (TP), often mistaking water clouds for high‐level clouds. To address this issue, we propose a new algorithm based on cloud‐top temperature and optical thickness, which we apply to TP using Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) geostationary satellite data. Compared with Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System cloud‐type products and ISCCP results obtained from AHI data, this new algorithm markedly improved low‐cloud detection accuracy and better aligned with cloud phase results. Validation with lidar cloud‐type products further confirmed the superiority of this new algorithm. Diurnal cloud variations over the TP show morning dominance shifting to afternoon high clouds and evening mid‐level clouds. Winter is dominated by high clouds, summer by mid‐level clouds, spring by daytime low clouds and nighttime high clouds, and autumn by low and mid‐level clouds. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e9a0b3ed3e6d440badc2b732932d113d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-07-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-e9a0b3ed3e6d440badc2b732932d113d2025-08-20T02:04:21ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072024-07-015113n/an/a10.1029/2024GL109590Advancing Cloud Classification Over the Tibetan Plateau: A New Algorithm Reveals Seasonal and Diurnal VariationsFangling Bao0Husi Letu1Huazhe Shang2Xu Ri3Deliang Chen4Tandong Yao5Lesi Wei6Chenqian Tang7Shuai Yin8Dabin Ji9Yonghui Lei10Chong Shi11Yiran Peng12Jiancheng Shi13Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth Aerospace Information Research Institute Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaKey Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth Aerospace Information Research Institute Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaKey Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth Aerospace Information Research Institute Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaCollege of Geography and Environmental Science Northwest Normal University Lanzhou ChinaDepartment of Earth Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg SwedenKey Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaKey Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth Aerospace Information Research Institute Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaKey Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth Aerospace Information Research Institute Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaKey Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth Aerospace Information Research Institute Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaKey Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth Aerospace Information Research Institute Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaKey Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth Aerospace Information Research Institute Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaKey Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth Aerospace Information Research Institute Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaTsinghua University Beijing ChinaNational Space Science Center Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaAbstract The cloud classification algorithm widely used in the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) tends to underestimate low clouds over the Tibetan Plateau (TP), often mistaking water clouds for high‐level clouds. To address this issue, we propose a new algorithm based on cloud‐top temperature and optical thickness, which we apply to TP using Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) geostationary satellite data. Compared with Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System cloud‐type products and ISCCP results obtained from AHI data, this new algorithm markedly improved low‐cloud detection accuracy and better aligned with cloud phase results. Validation with lidar cloud‐type products further confirmed the superiority of this new algorithm. Diurnal cloud variations over the TP show morning dominance shifting to afternoon high clouds and evening mid‐level clouds. Winter is dominated by high clouds, summer by mid‐level clouds, spring by daytime low clouds and nighttime high clouds, and autumn by low and mid‐level clouds.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL109590cloud classificationlow cloudsTibetan Plateaucloud‐type algorithm |
| spellingShingle | Fangling Bao Husi Letu Huazhe Shang Xu Ri Deliang Chen Tandong Yao Lesi Wei Chenqian Tang Shuai Yin Dabin Ji Yonghui Lei Chong Shi Yiran Peng Jiancheng Shi Advancing Cloud Classification Over the Tibetan Plateau: A New Algorithm Reveals Seasonal and Diurnal Variations Geophysical Research Letters cloud classification low clouds Tibetan Plateau cloud‐type algorithm |
| title | Advancing Cloud Classification Over the Tibetan Plateau: A New Algorithm Reveals Seasonal and Diurnal Variations |
| title_full | Advancing Cloud Classification Over the Tibetan Plateau: A New Algorithm Reveals Seasonal and Diurnal Variations |
| title_fullStr | Advancing Cloud Classification Over the Tibetan Plateau: A New Algorithm Reveals Seasonal and Diurnal Variations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Advancing Cloud Classification Over the Tibetan Plateau: A New Algorithm Reveals Seasonal and Diurnal Variations |
| title_short | Advancing Cloud Classification Over the Tibetan Plateau: A New Algorithm Reveals Seasonal and Diurnal Variations |
| title_sort | advancing cloud classification over the tibetan plateau a new algorithm reveals seasonal and diurnal variations |
| topic | cloud classification low clouds Tibetan Plateau cloud‐type algorithm |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL109590 |
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