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Development of methods for inferring cloud thickness and cloud-base height from satellite radiance dataCloud-top height is a major factor determining the outgoing longwave flux at the top of the atmosphere. The downwelling radiation from the cloud strongly affects the cooling rate within the atmosphere and the longwave radiation incident at the surface. Thus, determination of cloud-base temperature is important for proper calculation of fluxes below the cloud. Cloud-base altitude is also an important factor in aircraft operations. Cloud-top height or temperature can be derived in a straightforward manner using satellite-based infrared data. Cloud-base temperature, however, is not observable from the satellite, but is related to the height, phase, and optical depth of the cloud in addition to other variables. This study uses surface and satellite data taken during the First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Phase-2 Intensive Field Observation (IFO) period (13 Nov. - 7 Dec. 1991, to improve techniques for deriving cloud-base height from conventional satellite data.
Document ID
19940017828
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Smith, William L., Jr.
(Lockheed Engineering and Sciences Co. Hampton, VA., United States)
Minnis, Patrick
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Alvarez, Joseph M.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Uttal, Taneil
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Boulder, CO., United States)
Intrieri, Janet M.
(Colorado Univ. Boulder., United States)
Ackerman, Thomas P.
(Pennsylvania State Univ. University Park., United States)
Clothiaux, Eugene
(Pennsylvania State Univ. University Park., United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: The FIRE Cirrus Science Results 1993
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Accession Number
94N22301
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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