Cloud-Base-Height Estimation from Paired Ground-Based Hemispherical Observations

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2005 · Journal of Applied Meteorology, 44(8):1221-1233

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1175/JAM2277.1· OSTI ID:859965

Kassianov, Evgueni I; Long, Charles N; Christy, Jason E

The Total Sky Imager (TSI) and Hemispheric Sky Imager (HSI) each have a hemispherical field-of-view (FOV) and many TSIs are now deployed. Currently, these instruments have been used routinely to provide a time series of the fractional sky cover only. In this study, we examine the possible retrieval of cloud base height (CBH) from TSI surface observations. This paper presents a validation analysis of a new retrieval using both a model-output inverse problem and independent, ground-based Micropulse Lidar data. The obtained results suggest that, at least for single layer cloud fields, moderately accurate (within ~0.35 km) CBH retrieval is possible.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 859965
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-43253; JOAMEZ; KP1201030; TRN: US200523%%10
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Meteorology, 44(8):1221-1233, Vol. 44, Issue 8; ISSN 0894-8763
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CLOUDS
OPTICAL RADAR
SKY
ALTITUDE
INFORMATION RETRIEVAL
stochastic radiative-transfer
optical depth
irradiance
impact