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Title: Optimized fractional cloudiness determination from five ground-based remote sensing techniques

Abstract

A one-year record of fractional cloudiness at 10 minute intervals was generated for the Cabauw Experimental Site for Atmospheric Research [CESAR] (51°58’N, 4° 55’E) using an integrated assessment of five different observational methods. The five methods are based on active as well as passive systems and use either a hemispheric or column remote sensing technique. The one-year instrumental cloudiness data were compared against a 30 year climatology of Observer data in the vicinity of CESAR [1971- 2000]. In the intermediate 2 - 6 octa range, most instruments, but especially the column methods, report lower frequency of occurrence of cloudiness than the absolute minimum values from the 30 year Observer climatology. At night, the Observer records less clouds in the 1, 2 octa range than during the day, while the instruments registered more clouds. During daytime the Observer also records much more 7 octa cloudiness than the instruments. One column method combining a radar with a lidar outstrips all other techniques in recording cloudiness, even up to height in excess of 9 km. This is mostly due to the high sensitivity of the radar that is used in the technique. A reference algorithm was designed to derive a continuous and optimizedmore » record of fractional cloudiness. Output from individual instruments were weighted according to the cloud base height reported at the observation time; the larger the height, the lower the weight. The algorithm was able to provide fractional cloudiness observations every 10 minutes for 98% of the total period of 12 months [15 May 2008 - 14 May 2009].« less

Authors:
; ; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1001093
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-73638
KP1701000; TRN: US201101%%829
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Geophysical Research. D. (Atmospheres), 115:Article No. D24116
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 115
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
58 GEOSCIENCES; ALGORITHMS; CLOUDS; OPTICAL RADAR; RADAR; REMOTE SENSING; SENSITIVITY

Citation Formats

Boers, R, de Haij, M J, Wauben, W M.F., Baltink, Henk K, van Ulft, L H, Savenije, M, and Long, Charles N. Optimized fractional cloudiness determination from five ground-based remote sensing techniques. United States: N. p., 2010. Web. doi:10.1029/2010JD014661.
Boers, R, de Haij, M J, Wauben, W M.F., Baltink, Henk K, van Ulft, L H, Savenije, M, & Long, Charles N. Optimized fractional cloudiness determination from five ground-based remote sensing techniques. United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/2010JD014661
Boers, R, de Haij, M J, Wauben, W M.F., Baltink, Henk K, van Ulft, L H, Savenije, M, and Long, Charles N. 2010. "Optimized fractional cloudiness determination from five ground-based remote sensing techniques". United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/2010JD014661.
@article{osti_1001093,
title = {Optimized fractional cloudiness determination from five ground-based remote sensing techniques},
author = {Boers, R and de Haij, M J and Wauben, W M.F. and Baltink, Henk K and van Ulft, L H and Savenije, M and Long, Charles N},
abstractNote = {A one-year record of fractional cloudiness at 10 minute intervals was generated for the Cabauw Experimental Site for Atmospheric Research [CESAR] (51°58’N, 4° 55’E) using an integrated assessment of five different observational methods. The five methods are based on active as well as passive systems and use either a hemispheric or column remote sensing technique. The one-year instrumental cloudiness data were compared against a 30 year climatology of Observer data in the vicinity of CESAR [1971- 2000]. In the intermediate 2 - 6 octa range, most instruments, but especially the column methods, report lower frequency of occurrence of cloudiness than the absolute minimum values from the 30 year Observer climatology. At night, the Observer records less clouds in the 1, 2 octa range than during the day, while the instruments registered more clouds. During daytime the Observer also records much more 7 octa cloudiness than the instruments. One column method combining a radar with a lidar outstrips all other techniques in recording cloudiness, even up to height in excess of 9 km. This is mostly due to the high sensitivity of the radar that is used in the technique. A reference algorithm was designed to derive a continuous and optimized record of fractional cloudiness. Output from individual instruments were weighted according to the cloud base height reported at the observation time; the larger the height, the lower the weight. The algorithm was able to provide fractional cloudiness observations every 10 minutes for 98% of the total period of 12 months [15 May 2008 - 14 May 2009].},
doi = {10.1029/2010JD014661},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1001093}, journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research. D. (Atmospheres), 115:Article No. D24116},
number = ,
volume = 115,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Dec 23 00:00:00 EST 2010},
month = {Thu Dec 23 00:00:00 EST 2010}
}