Development and Validation of a Polar Cloud Algorithm for CERES

Abstract

The objectives of this project, as described in the original proposal, were to develop an algorithm for diagnosing cloud properties over snow- and ice-covered surfaces, particularly at night, using satellite radiances from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and High-resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder (HIRS) sensors. Products from this algorithm include a cloud mask and additional cloud properties such as cloud phase, amount, and height. The SIVIS software package, developed as a part of the CERES project, was originally the primary tool used to develop the algorithm, but as it is no longer supported we have had to pursue a new tool to enable the combination and analysis of collocated radiances from AVHRR and HIRS. This turned out to be a much larger endeavor than we expected, but we now have the data sets collocated (with many thanks to B. Baum for the fundamental code) and we have developed a nighttime cloud detection algorithm. Using this algorithm we have also computed realistic-looking cloud fractions from AVHRR brightness temperatures. A method to identify cloud phase has also been implemented. Atmospheric information from the TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS) Polar Pathfinder Data Set, which includes temperature and moisture profiles as well as surface information, provides information required for determining cloud-top height.