scholarly journals Estimating cloud optical thickness and associated surface UV irradiance from SEVIRI by implementing a semi-analytical cloud retrieval algorithm

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (17) ◽  
pp. 7961-7975 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Pandey ◽  
K. De Ridder ◽  
D. Gillotay ◽  
N. P. M. van Lipzig

Abstract. In this paper, we describe the implementation of the Semi-Analytical Cloud Retrieval Algorithm (SACURA), to obtain scaled cloud optical thickness (SCOT) from satellite imagery acquired with the SEVIRI instrument and surface UV irradiance levels. In estimation of SCOT particular care is given to the proper specification of the background (i.e. cloud-free) spectral albedo and the retrieval of the cloud water phase from reflectance ratios in SEVIRI's 0.6 μm and 1.6 μm spectral bands. The SACURA scheme is then applied to daytime SEVIRI imagery over Europe, for the month of June 2006, at 15-min time increments. The resulting SCOT fields are compared with values obtained by the CloudSat experimental satellite mission, yielding a negligible bias, correlation coefficients ranging from 0.51 to 0.78, and a root mean square difference of 1 to 2 SCOT increments. These findings compare favourably to results from similar intercomparison exercises reported in the literature. Based on the retrieved SCOT from SEVIRI and radiative transfer modelling approach, simple parameterisations are proposed to estimate the surface UV-A and UV-B irradiance. The validation of the modelled UV-A and UV-B irradiance against the measurements over two Belgian stations, Redu and Ostend, indicate good agreement with the high correlation, index of agreement and low bias. The SCOT fields estimated by implementing SACURA on imagery from geostationary satellite are reliable and its impact on surface UV irradiance levels is well produced.

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 691-721 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Pandey ◽  
K. De Ridder ◽  
D. Gillotay ◽  
N. P. M. van Lipzig

Abstract. In this paper, we describe the implementation of the Semi-Analytical Cloud Retrieval Algorithm (SACURA), to obtain scaled cloud optical thickness (SCOT) from satellite imagery acquired with the SEVIRI instrument and surface UV irradiance levels. In estimation of SCOT particular care is given to the proper specification of the background (i.e., cloud-free) spectral albedo and the retrieval of the cloud water phase from reflectance ratios in SEVIRI's 0.6 μm and 1.6 μm spectral bands. The SACURA scheme is then applied to daytime SEVIRI imagery over Europe, for the month of June 2006, at 15-min time increments. The resulting SCOT fields are compared with values obtained by the CloudSat experimental satellite mission, yielding a negligible bias, correlation coefficients ranging from 0.51 to 0.78, and a root mean square difference of 1 to 2 SCOT increments. These findings compare favourably to results from similar intercomparison exercises reported in the literature. Based on the retrieved SCOT from SEVIRI and radiative transfer modelling approach, simple parameterisations are proposed to estimate the surface UV-A and UV-B irradiance. The validation of the modelled UV-A and UV-B irradiance against the measurements over two Belgian stations, Redu and Ostend, indicate good agreement with the high correlation, index of agreement and low bias. The SCOT fields estimated by implementing SACURA on imagery from geostationary satellite are reliable and its impact on surface UV irradiance levels is well produced.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Elena Volpert ◽  
Natalia Chubarova

The temporal variability of solar shortwave radiation (SSR) has been assessed over northern Eurasia (40°–80° N; 10° W–180° E) by using an SSR reconstruction model since the middle of the 20th century. The reconstruction model estimates the year-to-year SSR variability as a sum of variations in SSR due to changes in aerosol, effective cloud amount and cloud optical thickness, which are the most effective factors affecting SSR. The retrievals of year-to-year SSR variations according to different factors were tested against long-term measurements in the Moscow State University Meteorological Observatory from 1968–2016. The reconstructed changes show a good agreement with measurements with determination factor R2 = 0.8. The analysis of SSR trends since 1979 has detected a significant growth of 2.5% per decade, which may be explained by its increase due to the change in cloud amount (+2.4% per decade) and aerosol optical thickness (+0.4% per decade). The trend due to cloud optical thickness was statistically insignificant. Using the SSR reconstruction model, we obtained the long-term SSR variability due to different factors for the territory of northern Eurasia. The increasing SSR trends have been detected on most sites since 1979. The long-term SSR variability over northern Eurasia is effectively explained by changes in cloud amount and, in addition, by changes in aerosol loading over the polluted regions. The retrievals of the SSR variations showed a good agreement with the changes in global radiance measurements from the World Radiation Data Center (WRDC) archive. The work was supported by RFBR grant number 18-05-00700.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 3215-3230 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Ehrlich ◽  
Eike Bierwirth ◽  
Larysa Istomina ◽  
Manfred Wendisch

Abstract. The passive solar remote sensing of cloud properties over highly reflecting ground is challenging, mostly due to the low contrast between the cloud reflectivity and that of the underlying surfaces (sea ice and snow). Uncertainties in the retrieved cloud optical thickness τ and cloud droplet effective radius reff, C may arise from uncertainties in the assumed spectral surface albedo, which is mainly determined by the generally unknown effective snow grain size reff, S. Therefore, in a first step the effects of the assumed snow grain size are systematically quantified for the conventional bispectral retrieval technique of τ and reff, C for liquid water clouds. In general, the impact of uncertainties of reff, S is largest for small snow grain sizes. While the uncertainties of retrieved τ are independent of the cloud optical thickness and solar zenith angle, the bias of retrieved reff, C increases for optically thin clouds and high Sun. The largest deviations between the retrieved and true original values are found with 83 % for τ and 62 % for reff, C. In the second part of the paper a retrieval method is presented that simultaneously derives all three parameters (τ, reff, C, reff, S) and therefore accounts for changes in the snow grain size. Ratios of spectral cloud reflectivity measurements at the three wavelengths λ1 = 1040 nm (sensitive to reff, S), λ2 = 1650 nm (sensitive to τ), and λ3 = 2100 nm (sensitive to reff, C) are combined in a trispectral retrieval algorithm. In a feasibility study, spectral cloud reflectivity measurements collected by the Spectral Modular Airborne Radiation measurement sysTem (SMART) during the research campaign Vertical Distribution of Ice in Arctic Mixed-Phase Clouds (VERDI, April/May 2012) were used to test the retrieval procedure. Two cases of observations above the Canadian Beaufort Sea, one with dense snow-covered sea ice and another with a distinct snow-covered sea ice edge are analysed. The retrieved values of τ, reff, C, and reff, S show a continuous transition of cloud properties across snow-covered sea ice and open water and are consistent with estimates based on satellite data. It is shown that the uncertainties of the trispectral retrieval increase for high values of τ, and low reff, S but nevertheless allow the effective snow grain size in cloud-covered areas to be estimated.


2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 4909-4947 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. K. Carbajal Henken ◽  
R. Lindstrot ◽  
R. Preusker ◽  
J. Fischer

Abstract. A newly developed daytime cloud property retrieval algorithm FAME-C (Freie Universität Berlin AATSR MERIS Cloud) is presented. Synergistic observations from AATSR and MERIS, both mounted on the polar orbiting satellite ENVISAT, are used for cloud screening. For cloudy pixels two main steps are carried out in a sequential form. First, a micro-physical cloud property retrieval is performed using an AATSR near-infrared and visible channel. Cloud phase, cloud optical thickness, and effective radius are retrieved, and subsequently cloud water path is computed. Second, two independent cloud top height products are retrieved. For cloud top temperature AATSR brightness temperatures are used, while for cloud top pressure the MERIS oxygen-A absorption channel is used. Results from the micro-physical retrieval serve as input for the two cloud top height retrievals. Introduced are the AATSR and MERIS forward models and auxiliary data needed in FAME-C. Also, the optimal estimation method with uncertainty estimates, which also provides for uncertainty estimated of the retrieved property on a pixel-basis, is presented. Within the frame of the ESA Climate Change Initiative project first global cloud property retrievals have been conducted for the years 2007–2009. For this time period verification efforts are presented comparing FAME-C cloud micro-physical properties to MODIS-TERRA derived cloud micro-physical properties for four selected regions on the globe. The results show reasonable accuracies between the cloud micro-physical retrievals. Biases are generally smallest for marine stratocumulus clouds; −0.28, 0.41μm and −0.18 g m−2 for cloud optical thickness, effective radius and cloud water path, respectively. This is also true for the root mean square error. Also, both cloud top height products are compared to cloud top heights derived from ground-based cloud radars located at several ARM sites. FAME-C mostly shows an underestimation of cloud top heights when compared to radar observations, which is partly attributed to the difficulty of accurate cloud property retrievals for optically thin clouds and multi-layer clouds. The bias is smallest, −0.9 km, for AATSR derived cloud top heights for single-layer clouds.


2006 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. 4129-4136 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. Kokhanovsky ◽  
W. von Hoyningen-Huene ◽  
V. V. Rozanov ◽  
S. Noël ◽  
K. Gerilowski ◽  
...  

Abstract. The SemiAnalytical CloUd Retrieval Algorithm (SACURA) is applied to the SCanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CHartographY (SCIAMACHY) data. In particular, we derive simultaneously cloud optical thickness (COT) and cloud top height (CTH), using SCIAMACHY measurements in the visible (442 nm, COT) and in the oxygen A-band (755–775 nm, CTH). Some of the results obtained are compared with those derived from the Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS), which has better spatial resolution and observes almost the same scene as SCIAMACHY. The same cloud algorithm is applied to both MERIS and SCIAMACHY data. In addition, we perform the vicarious calibration of SCIAMACHY at the wavelength 442 nm, using MERIS measurements at the same wavelength. Differences in the retrieved COT for the same cloud field obtained using MERIS and SCIAMACHY measurements are discussed.


Author(s):  
Tsu-Wang Shen ◽  
Shan-Chun Chang

Abstract Purpose Although electrocardiogram (ECG) has been proven as a biometric for human identification, applying biometric technology remains challenging with diverse heart rate circumstances in which high intensity heart rate caused waveform deformation may not be known in advance when ECG templates are registered. Methods A calibration method that calculates the ratio of the length of an unidentified electrocardiogram signal to the length of an electrocardiogram template is proposed in this paper. Next, the R peak is used as an axis anchor point of a trigonometric projection (TP) to attain the displacement value. Finally, the unidentified ECG signal is calibrated according to the generated trigonometric value, which corresponds to the trigonometric projection degree of the ratio and the attained displacement measurement. Results The results reveal that the proposed method provides superior overall performance compared with that of the conventional downsampling method, based on the percentage root mean square difference (PRD), correlation coefficients, and mean square error (MSE). Conclusion The curve fitting equation directly maps from the heart rate levels to the TP degree without prior registration information. The proposed ECG calibration method offers a more robust system against heart rate interference when conducting ECG identification.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haowen Yue ◽  
Mekonnen Gebremichael

<p>This study evaluates the short-to-medium range precipitation forecasts from Global Forecast System for 14 major transboundary river basins in Africa against GPM IMERG “Early”, IMERG “Final”, and CHIRPSv2 products. Daily precipitation forecasts with lead times of 1-day, 5-day, 10-day, and 15-day and accumulated precipitation forecasts with periods of 1-day, 5-day, 10-day, and 15-day are investigated. The 14 selected basins are (1) Senegal; (2) Volta; (3) Niger; (4) Chad; (5) Nile; (6) Awash; (7) Congo; (8) Omo Gibe; (9) Tana; (10) Pangani; (11) Zambezi; (12) Okavango; (13) Limpopo and (14) Orange. For each basin, several sub-basins are defined by the major dams in the basin. Our preliminary results in the Nile river basin show that in terms of temporal variability, there was a good agreement between the forecasted and observed accumulated precipitation on a 15-day basis. When compared to IMERG “Final”, the correlation coefficients of accumulated GFS forecasts scored as high as 0.75. Thus, GFS products provide relatively reliable accumulated precipitation forecasts. However, the precipitation forecasts were mostly biased: they tend to overpredict rainfall for the eastern part of the Nile river, underestimate rainfall for the northern part of the Nile river and produce almost unbiased estimates for the southern part of the river. Additionally, GFS forecasts have a general tendency to underpredict the area of precipitation across the Nile basin. Although the performance of GFS varies at different locations, the GFS precipitation forecasts can be a good reference to dam operators in Africa. </p>


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