Physical retrieval of cloud-top properties using optimal spectral sampling

Type: Presentation

Venue: SPIE Optics and Photonics 2005 - Atmospheric and Environmental Remote Sensing Data Processing and Utilization

Citation:

Kennelly, E.J., Hogan, D., and Zaccheo, S. 2005, “Physical retrieval of cloud-top properties using optimal spectral sampling”, SPIE Optics and Photonics 2005 - Atmospheric and Environmental Remote Sensing Data Processing and Utilization, 5890-51.

Resource Link: http://spiedigitallibrary.org/proceedings/resource/2/psisdg/5890/1/589019_1?isAuthorized=no

For daytime water phase clouds, an iterative physical retrieval algorithm is proposed to determine the cloud top pressure, temperature, and height that best matches the window-IR channel radiance to that predicted from the atmospheric/surface state as specified by numerical weather prediction model inputs and other data. The iterative retrieval uses a fast radiative transfer (or forward) model and includes a parameterization of cloud multiple scattering. The optical thickness and effective particle size are used as explicit inputs and so it can account for both optically thin and thick clouds.