scholarly journals Potential of remote sensing of cirrus optical thickness by airborne spectral radiance measurements in different viewing angles and nadir geometry

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Wolf ◽  
André Ehrlich ◽  
Tilman Hüneke ◽  
Klaus Pfeilsticker ◽  
Frank Werner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Radiative Transfer ◽  
Optical Thickness ◽  
Convective Cloud ◽  
Sensitivity Study ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Spectral Radiance ◽  
Crystal Shape ◽  
Ice Crystal ◽  
The North

Abstract. Spectral radiance measurements from two airborne passive solar remote sensing instruments, the Spectral Modular Airborne Radiation measurement sysTem (SMART) and the Differential Optical Absorption Spectrometer (mini-DOAS), are used to compare the remote sensing of cirrus optical thickness τ in nadir and off-nadir geometry. The comparison is based on a sensitivity study using radiative transfer simulations and on measurements during the North Atlantic Rainfall VALidation (NARVAL) mission, the Mid-Latitude Cirrus Experiment (ML-CIRRUS) and the Aerosol, Cloud, Precipitation, and Radiation Interactions and Dynamics of Convective Cloud Systems (ACRIDICON) campaign. Radiative transfer simulations are used to quantify the sensitivity of measured upward radiance I with respect to cirrus optical thickness τ, effective radius τeff, viewing angle of the sensor σL, surface albedo α and ice crystal shape. From the calculations it is concluded that off-nadir measurements at wavelengths larger than λ = 900 nm significantly improve the ability to measure clouds of low optical thickness. The comparison of nadir and off-nadir retrievals of τ from mini-DOAS, SMART and independent estimates by the Water Vapour Lidar Experiment in Space (WALES) show general agreement within the range of measurement uncertainties. For the selected example case a mean optical thickness of 0.54±0.2 is derived by SMART and 0.49±0.2 by mini-DOAS nadir channels, while WALES obtained a mean value of 0.32 at 532 nm wavelength respectively. The mean of τ derived from the scanning mini-DOAS channels is 0.26. For the few simultaneous measurements, the scanning mini-DOAS measurements systematically underestimate (−17.6 %) the nadir observations from SMART and mini-DOAS, most likely due to the different probed scenes. The different values of τ derived by SMART, mini-DOAS and WALES can be potentially linked to spatial averages, ice crystal shape and the measurement strategies. The agreement of the simulations and retrievals indicate that off-nadir measurements are generally suited better to retrieve τ of thin clouds.

scholarly journals Potential of remote sensing of cirrus optical thickness by airborne spectral radiance measurements at different sideward viewing angles

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 4283-4303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Wolf ◽  
André Ehrlich ◽  
Tilman Hüneke ◽  
Klaus Pfeilsticker ◽  
Frank Werner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Radiative Transfer ◽  
Optical Thickness ◽  
Convective Cloud ◽  
Sensitivity Study ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Spectral Radiance ◽  
Channel Measurements ◽  
Ice Crystal ◽  
The North

Abstract. Spectral radiance measurements collected in nadir and sideward viewing directions by two airborne passive solar remote sensing instruments, the Spectral Modular Airborne Radiation measurement sysTem (SMART) and the Differential Optical Absorption Spectrometer (mini-DOAS), are used to compare the remote sensing results of cirrus optical thickness τ. The comparison is based on a sensitivity study using radiative transfer simulations (RTS) and on data obtained during three airborne field campaigns: the North Atlantic Rainfall VALidation (NARVAL) mission, the Mid-Latitude Cirrus Experiment (ML-CIRRUS) and the Aerosol, Cloud, Precipitation, and Radiation Interactions and Dynamics of Convective Cloud Systems (ACRIDICON) campaign. Radiative transfer simulations are used to quantify the sensitivity of measured upward radiance I with respect to τ, ice crystal effective radius reff, viewing angle of the sensor θV, spectral surface albedo α, and ice crystal shape. From the calculations it is concluded that sideward viewing measurements are generally better suited than radiance data from the nadir direction to retrieve τ of optically thin cirrus, especially at wavelengths larger than λ =  900 nm. Using sideward instead of nadir-directed spectral radiance measurements significantly improves the sensitivity and accuracy in retrieving τ, in particular for optically thin cirrus of τ ≤ 2. The comparison of retrievals of τ based on nadir and sideward viewing radiance measurements from SMART, mini-DOAS and independent estimates of τ from an additional active remote sensing instrument, the Water Vapor Lidar Experiment in Space (WALES), shows general agreement within the range of measurement uncertainties. For the selected example a mean τ of 0.54 ± 0.2 is derived from SMART, and 0.49 ± 0.2 by mini-DOAS nadir channels, while WALES obtained a mean value of τ =  0.32 ± 0.02 at 532 nm wavelength, respectively. The mean of τ derived from the sideward viewing mini-DOAS channels is 0.26 ± 0.2. For the few simultaneous measurements, the mini-DOAS sideward channel measurements systematically underestimate (−17.6 %) the nadir observations from SMART and mini-DOAS. The agreement between mini-DOAS sideward viewing channels and WALES is better, showing the advantage of using sideward viewing measurements for cloud remote sensing for τ ≤ 1. Therefore, we suggest sideward viewing measurements for retrievals of τ of thin cirrus because of the significantly enhanced capability of sideward viewing compared to nadir measurements.

scholarly journals Application of ground-based hyperspectral imaging to retrieve ice crystal shape and fields of cirrus optical thickness

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1201-1238 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Schäfer ◽  
E. Bierwirth ◽  
A. Ehrlich ◽  
F. Heyner ◽  
M. Wendisch
Keyword(s):  
Hyperspectral Imaging ◽  
Optical Thickness ◽  
Surface Albedo ◽  
Effective Radius ◽  
Spectral Radiance ◽  
Trade Wind ◽  
Crystal Shape ◽  
Ice Crystal ◽  
Retrieval Method ◽  
Cloud Height

Abstract. A ground-based hyperspectral imaging spectrometer (AisaEAGLE) is applied to measure downward spectral radiance fields with high spatial (1024 spatial pixels within 36.7° field of view), spectral (488 spectral pixels, 400–970 nm, 1.25 nm full width at half maximum) and temporal (4–30 Hz) resolution. The calibration, measurement, and data evaluation procedures are introduced. A method is presented to retrieve the cirrus optical thickness τci using ground-based spectral radiance data collected by AisaEAGLE. On the basis of four measurement cases during the second campaign of the Cloud Aerosol Radiation and tuRbulence of trade wInd cumuli over BArbados (CARRIBA) project in 2011 the spatial inhomogeneity of the investigated cirrus is characterized by the standard deviation of the retrieved τci, as well as the width of the frequency distribution of the retrieved τci. By comparing measured and simulated downward solar radiance as a function of scattering angle, a first estimation of the detected cirrus ice crystal shape is given and used in the retrieval of the τci. The sensitivity of the retrieval method with respect to surface albedo, effective radius reff, cloud height, and ice crystal shape was characterized. Significant sensitivities of the retrieval method were found for the assumed surface albedo (up to 30%) and ice crystal shape (up to 90%). The sensitivity with regard to the effective radius (≤ 5%) and the cloud height (≤ 0.5%) is rather small and can be neglected.

scholarly journals Retrieval of cirrus optical thickness and assessment of ice crystal shape from ground-based imaging spectrometry

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. 1855-1868 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Schäfer ◽  
E. Bierwirth ◽  
A. Ehrlich ◽  
F. Heyner ◽  
M. Wendisch
Keyword(s):  
Optical Thickness ◽  
Surface Albedo ◽  
Spatial Inhomogeneity ◽  
Spectral Radiance ◽  
Trade Wind ◽  
Crystal Shape ◽  
Ice Crystal ◽  
Enhanced Sensitivity ◽  
Cloud Height ◽  
Calibration Measurement

Abstract. A ground-based hyperspectral imaging spectrometer (AisaEAGLE, manufactured by Specim Ltd., Finland) is applied to measure downward spectral radiance fields with high spatial (1024 spatial pixels within 36.7° field of view), spectral (488 spectral pixels, 400–970 nm, 1.25 nm full width at half maximum), and temporal (4–30 Hz) resolution. The calibration, measurement and data evaluation procedures are introduced. A new method is presented to retrieve the cirrus optical thickness (τci) using the spectral radiance data collected by AisaEAGLE. The data were collected during the Cloud Aerosol Radiation and tuRbulence of trade wInd cumuli over BArbados (CARRIBA) project in 2011. The spatial inhomogeneity of the investigated cirrus is characterised by the standard deviation of the retrieved τci as well as the width of its frequency distribution. By comparing measured and simulated downward solar spectral radiance as a function of scattering angle, some evidence of the prevailing cirrus ice crystal shape can be obtained and subsequently used to substantiate the retrieval of τci. The sensitivity of the retrieval method with respect to surface albedo, effective radius (reff), cloud height and ice crystal shape is quantified. An enhanced sensitivity of the retrieved τci is found with respect to the surface albedo (up to 30%) and ice crystal shape (up to 90%). The sensitivity with regard to the effective ice crystal radius (≤ 5%) and the cloud height (≤ 0.5%) is rather small and can be neglected.

scholarly journals Influence of local surface albedo variability and ice crystal shape on passive remote sensing of thin cirrus

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 1943-1958 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Fricke ◽  
A. Ehrlich ◽  
E. Jäkel ◽  
B. Bohn ◽  
M. Wirth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Thickness ◽  
Surface Albedo ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Effective Radius ◽  
High Spectral Resolution ◽  
Spectral Radiance ◽  
Crystal Shape ◽  
Frequency Distributions ◽  
Airborne Measurements ◽  
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer

Abstract. Airborne measurements of solar spectral radiance reflected by cirrus are performed with the HALO-Solar Radiation (HALO-SR) instrument onboard the High Altitude and Long Range Research Aircraft (HALO) in November 2010. The data are used to quantify the influence of surface albedo variability on the retrieval of cirrus optical thickness and crystal effective radius. The applied retrieval of cirrus optical properties is based on a standard two-wavelength approach utilizing measured and simulated reflected radiance in the visible and near-infrared spectral region. Frequency distributions of the surface albedos from Moderate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite observations are used to compile surface-albedo-dependent lookup tables of reflected radiance. For each assumed surface albedo the cirrus optical thickness and effective crystal radius are retrieved as a function of the assumed surface albedo. The results for the cirrus optical thickness are compared to measurements from the High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL). The uncertainty in cirrus optical thickness due to local variability of surface albedo in the specific case study investigated here is below 0.1 and thus less than that caused by the measurement uncertainty of both instruments. It is concluded that for the retrieval of cirrus optical thickness the surface albedo variability is negligible. However, for the retrieval of crystal effective radius, the surface albedo variability is of major importance, introducing uncertainties up to 50%. Furthermore, the influence of the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) on the retrieval of crystal effective radius was investigated and quantified with uncertainties below 10%, which ranges below the uncertainty caused by the surface albedo variability. The comparison with the independent lidar data allowed for investigation of the role of the crystal shape in the retrieval. It is found that if assuming aggregate ice crystals, the HSRL observations fit best with the retrieved optical thickness from HALO-SR.

scholarly journals Influence of ice crystal shape on retrieval of cirrus optical thickness and effective radius: A case study

2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (D19) ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Eichler ◽  
A. Ehrlich ◽  
M. Wendisch ◽  
G. Mioche ◽  
J.-F. Gayet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Thickness ◽  
Effective Radius ◽  
Crystal Shape ◽  
Ice Crystal

scholarly journals Testing remote sensing on artificial observations: impact of drizzle and 3-D cloud structure on effective radius retrievals

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (19) ◽  
pp. 9535-9549 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Zinner ◽  
G. Wind ◽  
S. Platnick ◽  
A. S. Ackerman
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Particle Size ◽  
Radiative Transfer ◽  
Droplet Size ◽  
Optical Thickness ◽  
Marine Boundary Layer ◽  
Effective Radius ◽  
Retrieval Algorithm ◽  
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Remote sensing of cloud effective particle size with passive sensors like the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) is an important tool for cloud microphysical studies. As a measure of the radiatively relevant droplet size, effective radius can be retrieved with different combinations of visible through shortwave and midwave infrared channels. In practice, retrieved effective radii from these combinations can be quite different. This difference is perhaps indicative of different penetration depths and path lengths for the spectral reflectances used. In addition, operational liquid water cloud retrievals are based on the assumption of a relatively narrow distribution of droplet sizes; the role of larger precipitation particles in these distributions is neglected. Therefore, possible explanations for the discrepancy in some MODIS spectral size retrievals could include 3-D radiative transport effects, including sub-pixel cloud inhomogeneity, and/or the impact of drizzle formation. For three cloud cases the possible factors of influence are isolated and investigated in detail by the use of simulated cloud scenes and synthetic satellite data: marine boundary layer cloud scenes from large eddy simulations (LES) with detailed microphysics are combined with Monte Carlo radiative transfer calculations that explicitly account for the detailed droplet size distributions as well as 3-D radiative transfer to simulate MODIS observations. The operational MODIS optical thickness and effective radius retrieval algorithm is applied to these and the results are compared to the given LES microphysics. We investigate two types of marine cloud situations each with and without drizzle from LES simulations: (1) a typical daytime stratocumulus deck at two times in the diurnal cycle and (2) one scene with scattered cumulus. Only small impact of drizzle formation on the retrieved domain average and on the differences between the three effective radius retrievals is noticed for both cloud scene types for different reasons. For our, presumably typical, overcast stratocumulus scenes with an optical thickness of 8 to 9 and rain rates at cloud bottom up to 0.05 mm/h clear drizzle impact on the retrievals can be excluded. The cumulus scene does not show much drizzle sensitivity either despite extended drizzle areas being directly visible from above (locally >1 mm/h), which is mainly due to technical characteristics of the standard retrieval approach. 3-D effects, on the other hand, produce large discrepancies between the 1.6 and 2.1 μm channel observations compared to 3.7 μm retrievals in the latter case. A general sensitivity of MODIS particle size data to drizzle formation is not corroborated by our case studies.

scholarly journals Simulated and observed horizontal inhomogeneities of optical thickness of Arctic stratus

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Schäfer ◽  
Katharina Loewe ◽  
André Ehrlich ◽  
Corinna Hoose ◽  
Manfred Wendisch
Keyword(s):  
Wind Velocity ◽  
Optical Thickness ◽  
Atmospheric Model ◽  
Sensitivity Study ◽  
Spectral Radiance ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Airborne Measurements ◽  
Cloud Properties ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Horizontal Inhomogeneity

Abstract. Two-dimensional (2D) horizontal fields of cloud optical thickness derived from airborne measurements of solar spectral radiance during the Vertical Distribution of Ice in Arctic Clouds (VERDI) campaign (carried out in Inuvik, Canada in April/May 2012) are compared with semi–idealized Large Eddy Simulations (LES) of Arctic stratus performed with the COnsortium for Small-Scale MOdeling (COSMO) atmospheric model. The input for the LES is obtained from collocated airborne dropsonde observations. Four consecutive days of a persistent Arctic stratus observed above the sea–ice free Beaufort Sea are selected for the comparison. Macrophysical cloud properties such as cloud top altitude and vertical extent are well captured by COSMO. Cloud horizontal inhomogeneity quantified by the standard deviation and one-dimensional (1D) inhomogeneity parameters show that COSMO produces only half of the measured horizontal cloud inhomogeneities, while the directional structure of the cloud inhomogeneity is well represented by the model. Differences between the individual cases are mainly associated with the wind shear near cloud top and the vertical structure of the atmospheric boundary layer. A sensitivity study changing the wind velocity in COSMO by a vertically constant scaling factor shows that the directional cloud inhomogeneity structures strongly depend on the mean wind speed. A threshold wind velocity is identified, which determines when the cloud inhomogeneity stops increasing with increasing wind velocity.

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