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Cirrus cloud detection from airborne imaging spectrometer data using the 1.38 micron water vapor bandUsing special images acquired by the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) at 20 km altitude, we show that wavelengths close to the center of the strong 1.38 micron water vapor band are useful for detecting thin cirrus clouds. The detection makes use of the fact that cirrus clouds are located above almost all the atmospheric water vapor. Because of the strong water vapor absorption in the lower atmosphere, AVIRIS channels near 1.38 micron receive little scattered solar radiance from the surface of low level clouds. When cirrus clouds are present, however, these channels receive large amounts of scattered solar radiance from the cirrus clouds. Our ability to determine cirrus cloud cover using space-based remote sensing will be improved if channels near the center of the 1.38 micron water vapor band are added to future satellites.
Document ID
19930048275
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Gao, Bo-Cai
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Goetz, Alexander F. H.
(Colorado Univ. Boulder, United States)
Wiscombe, Warren J.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
February 19, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Volume: 20
Issue: 4
ISSN: 0094-8276
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Accession Number
93A32272
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS5-30552
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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