Feasibility study of cloud base height remote sensing by ground-based sky thermal infrared brightness temperature measurements

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenxing Zhang ◽  
Daren Lu ◽  
Youli Chang
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Brightness Temperature ◽  
Feasibility Study ◽  
Thermal Infrared ◽  
Temperature Measurements ◽  
Cloud Base ◽  
Cloud Base Height ◽  
Infrared Brightness

scholarly journals Efficient radiative transfer model for thermal infrared brightness temperature simulation in cloudy atmospheres

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (18) ◽  
pp. 25730
Author(s):  
Wenwen Li ◽  
Feng Zhang ◽  
Yi-Ning Shi ◽  
Hironobu Iwabuchi ◽  
Mingwei Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radiative Transfer ◽  
Brightness Temperature ◽  
Thermal Infrared ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Infrared Brightness

scholarly journals A novel technique for extracting clouds base height using ground based imaging

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 4231-4260 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Hirsch ◽  
E. Agassi ◽  
I. Koren
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Thermal Imaging ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Cloud Base ◽  
Convective Clouds ◽  
Boundary Layer Clouds ◽  
Remote Sensing Techniques ◽  
Power Needs ◽  
Cloud Base Height

Abstract. The height of a cloud in the atmospheric column is a key parameter in its characterization. Several remote sensing techniques (passive and active, either ground-based or on space-borne platforms) and in-situ measurements are routinely used in order to estimate top and base heights of clouds. In this article we present a novel method that combines thermal imaging from the ground and sounded wind profile in order to derive the cloud base height. This method is independent of cloud types, making it efficient for both low boundary layer and high clouds. In addition, using thermal imaging ensures extraction of clouds' features during daytime as well as at nighttime. The proposed technique was validated by comparison to active sounding by ceilometers (which is a standard ground based method), to lifted condensation level (LCL) calculations, and to MODIS products obtained from space. As all passive remote sensing techniques, the proposed method extracts only the height of the lowest cloud layer, thus upper cloud layers are not detected. Nevertheless, the information derived from this method can be complementary to space-borne cloud top measurements when deep-convective clouds are present. Unlike techniques such as LCL, this method is not limited to boundary layer clouds, and can extract the cloud base height at any level, as long as sufficient thermal contrast exists between the radiative temperatures of the cloud and its surrounding air parcel. Another advantage of the proposed method is its simplicity and modest power needs, making it particularly suitable for field measurements and deployment at remote locations. Our method can be further simplified for use with visible CCD or CMOS camera (although nighttime clouds will not be observed).

scholarly journals Measuring Cloud Cover and Brightness Temperature with a Ground-Based Thermal Infrared Camera

2008 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 683-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Smith ◽  
Ralf Toumi
Keyword(s):  
Brightness Temperature ◽  
Cloud Cover ◽  
Infrared Camera ◽  
Thermal Infrared ◽  
Cloud Base ◽  
Clear Sky ◽  
Brightness Temperatures ◽  
External Data ◽  
Infrared Cameras ◽  
Two Parameters

Abstract Thermal infrared cameras can be used to monitor clouds and the sky at high spatial and temporal resolutions. In particular, this study shows that, without the need for any external data, cloud cover can be retrieved both day and night over a field of view extending to zenith angles of ∼80°. Zenith clear sky temperatures are estimated for cloud cover up to 80%. During periods of 50% cloud cover or more the cloud-base brightness temperatures (CBBTs) can be calculated to an accuracy of ±1 K. These calculations are made possible by using a new parameterization for the variation of sky brightness temperature with zenith angle. Both clear and cloudy conditions are found to follow this simple empirical equation more closely than the widely used parameterization of Unsworth and Monteith. A simple, angle-dependent threshold system based on cloud transmittance can then be used to retrieve cloud cover, and clear sky temperature and CBBT are calculated using the two parameters resulting from the fitting process.

scholarly journals A novel technique for extracting clouds base height using ground based imaging

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Hirsch ◽  
E. Agassi ◽  
I. Koren
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Thermal Imaging ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Cloud Base ◽  
Convective Clouds ◽  
Boundary Layer Clouds ◽  
Remote Sensing Techniques ◽  
Power Needs ◽  
Cloud Base Height

Abstract. The height of a cloud in the atmospheric column is a key parameter in its characterization. Several remote sensing techniques (passive and active, either ground-based or on space-borne platforms) and in-situ measurements are routinely used in order to estimate top and base heights of clouds. In this article we present a novel method that combines thermal imaging from the ground and sounded wind profile in order to derive the cloud base height. This method is independent of cloud types, making it efficient for both low boundary layer and high clouds. In addition, using thermal imaging ensures extraction of clouds' features during daytime as well as at nighttime. The proposed technique was validated by comparison to active sounding by ceilometers (which is a standard ground based method), to lifted condensation level (LCL) calculations, and to MODIS products obtained from space. As all passive remote sensing techniques, the proposed method extracts only the height of the lowest cloud layer, thus upper cloud layers are not detected. Nevertheless, the information derived from this method can be complementary to space-borne cloud top measurements when deep-convective clouds are present. Unlike techniques such as LCL, this method is not limited to boundary layer clouds, and can extract the cloud base height at any level, as long as sufficient thermal contrast exists between the radiative temperatures of the cloud and its surrounding air parcel. Another advantage of the proposed method is its simplicity and modest power needs, making it particularly suitable for field measurements and deployment at remote locations. Our method can be further simplified for use with visible CCD or CMOS camera (although nighttime clouds will not be observed).

scholarly journals Airborne observations of a subvisible midlevel Arctic ice cloud: microphysical and radiative characterization

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 595-634
Author(s):  
A. Lampert ◽  
A. Ehrlich ◽  
A. Dörnbrack ◽  
O. Jourdan ◽  
J.-F. Gayet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Thermal Infrared ◽  
Airborne Lidar ◽  
Radiative Properties ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Cloud Base ◽  
Effective Diameter ◽  
Ice Cloud ◽  
Tropospheric Aerosol

Abstract. During the Arctic Study of Tropospheric Aerosol, Clouds and Radiation (ASTAR) campaign, which was conducted in March and April 2007, an optically thin ice cloud was observed at around 3 km altitude south of Svalbard. The microphysical and radiative properties of this particular subvisible midlevel cloud were investigated with complementary remote sensing and in-situ instruments. Collocated airborne lidar remote-sensing and spectral solar radiation measurements were performed at a flight altitude of 2300 m below the cloud base. Under almost stationary atmospheric conditions, the same subvisible midlevel cloud was probed with various in-situ sensors roughly 30 min later. From individual ice crystal samples detected with the Cloud Particle Imager and the ensemble of particles measured with the Polar Nephelometer, we retrieved the single-scattering albedo, the scattering phase function as well as the volume extinction coefficient and the effective diameter of the crystal population. Furthermore, a lidar ratio of 21 (±6) sr was deduced by two independent methods. These parameters in conjunction with the cloud optical thickness obtained from the lidar measurements were used to compute spectral and broadband radiances and irradiances with a radiative transfer code. The simulated results agreed with the observed spectral downwelling radiance within the range given by the measurement uncertainty. Furthermore, the broadband radiative simulations estimated a net (solar plus thermal infrared) radiative forcing of the subvisible midlevel ice cloud of −0.4 W m−2 (−3.2 W m−2 in the solar and +2.8 W m−2 in the thermal infrared wavelength range).

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