The 3D Radiative Effects of Clouds in Aerosol Retrieval: Can we Remove Them?

Conference · Wed Sep 30 04:00:00 EDT 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1117/12.830179· OSTI ID:1006321

Kassianov, Evgueni I; Ovchinnikov, Mikhail; Berg, Larry K; McFarlane, Sally A; Flynn, Connor J; Ferrare, Richard; Hostetler, Chris A

We outline a new method, called the ratio method, developed to retrieve aerosol optical depth (AOD) under broken cloud conditions and present validation results from sensitivity and case studies. Results of the sensitivity study demonstrate that the ratio method, which exploits ratios of reflectances in the visible spectral range, has the potential for accurate AOD retrievals under different observational conditions and random errors in input data. Also, we examine the performance of the ratio method using aircraft data collected during the Cloud and Land Surface Interaction Campaign (CLASIC) and the Cumulus Humilis Aerosol Processing Study (CHAPS). Results of the case study suggest that the ratio method has the ability to retrieve AOD from multi-spectral aircraft observations of the reflected solar radiation.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1006321
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-73334; KP1701000
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AEROSOLS
AIRCRAFT
CLOUDS
PERFORMANCE
PROCESSING
REMOTE SENSING
SENSITIVITY
SOLAR RADIATION
VALIDATION