Overcast Clouds Determined By Trmm Measurements

Abstract

Using the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Visible and Infra-Red Scanner (VIRS) and TRMM Microwave Radiometer (TMI) measurements, this study retrieves cloud optical depth (tau), liquid water path (LWP), and the frequency of co-occurrence of ice and water clouds based on radiative transfer models. Results show that LWP values for warm non-precipitating clouds are approximately 0.06mm and cold clouds have large ice water amount (approximately 0.1mm). The cloud systems with significant amounts of water below ice occur about 10 to approximately 20% of the time.