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Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Tropospheric Clouds and Aerosols Observed by MODIS Onboard the Terra and Aqua SatellitesRemote sensing of cloud and aerosol optical properties is routinely obtained using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard the Terra and Aqua satellites. Instruments that are being used to enhance our ability to characterize the global distribution of cloud and aerosol properties include well-calibrated multispectral radiometers that measure in the visible, near-infrared, and thermal infrared. The availability of thermal channels to enhance detection of cloud when estimating aerosol properties is an important improvement. In this paper, we describe the radiative properties of clouds as currently determined from satellites (cloud fraction, optical thickness, cloud top pressure, and cloud particle effective radius) and highlight the global/regional cloud microphysical properties currently available for assessing climate variability and forcing. These include the latitudinal distribution of cloud optical and radiative properties of both liquid water and ice clouds, as well as joint histograms of cloud optical thickness and effective particle radius for selected geographical locations around the world. In addition, we will illustrate the radiative and microphysical properties of aerosol particles (in cloud free regions) that are currently available from space-based observations, and show the latitudinal distribution of aerosol optical properties over both land and ocean surfaces.
Document ID
20070016674
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
King, Michael D.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Platnick, Steven
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Menzel, W. Paul
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Madison, WI, United States)
Ackerman, Steven A.
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Madison, WI, United States)
Remer, Lorraine A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 23, 2013
Publication Date
December 11, 2006
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Meeting Information
Meeting: 2006 Fall AGU Meeting
Location: San Francisco, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: December 11, 2006
End Date: December 15, 2006
Sponsors: American Geophysical Union
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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