scholarly journals Cirrus cloud optical and microphysical property retrievals from eMAS during SEAC<sup>4</sup>RS using bi-spectral reflectance measurements within the 1.88  µm water vapor absorption band

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 1743-1753 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerry Meyer ◽  
Steven Platnick ◽  
G. Thomas Arnold ◽  
Robert E. Holz ◽  
Paolo Veglio ◽  
...  

Abstract. Previous bi-spectral imager retrievals of cloud optical thickness (COT) and effective particle radius (CER) based on the Nakajima and King (1990) approach, such as those of the operational MODIS cloud optical property retrieval product (MOD06), have typically paired a non-absorbing visible or near-infrared wavelength, sensitive to COT, with an absorbing shortwave or mid-wave infrared wavelength sensitive to CER. However, in practice it is only necessary to select two spectral channels that exhibit a strong contrast in cloud particle absorption. Here it is shown, using eMAS observations obtained during NASA's SEAC4RS field campaign, that selecting two absorbing wavelength channels within the broader 1.88 µm water vapor absorption band, namely the 1.83 and 1.93 µm channels that have sufficient differences in ice crystal single scattering albedo, can yield COT and CER retrievals for thin to moderately thick single-layer cirrus that are reasonably consistent with other solar and IR imager-based and lidar-based retrievals. A distinct advantage of this channel selection for cirrus cloud retrievals is that the below-cloud water vapor absorption minimizes the surface contribution to measured cloudy top-of-atmosphere reflectance, in particular compared to the solar window channels used in heritage retrievals such as MOD06. This reduces retrieval uncertainty resulting from errors in the surface reflectance assumption and reduces the frequency of retrieval failures for thin cirrus clouds.

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Meyer ◽  
S. Platnick ◽  
G. T. Arnold ◽  
R. E. Holz ◽  
P. Veglio ◽  
...  

Abstract. Previous bi-spectral imager retrievals of cloud optical thickness (COT) and effective particle radius (CER) based on the Nakajima and King (1990) approach, such as those of the operational MODIS cloud optical property retrieval product (MOD06), have typically paired a non-absorbing visible or near-infrared wavelength, sensitive to COT, with an absorbing shortwave or midwave infrared wavelength sensitive to CER. However, in practice it is only necessary to select two spectral channels that exhibit a strong contrast in cloud particle absorption. Here it is shown, using eMAS observations obtained during NASA's SEAC4RS field campaign, that selecting two absorbing wavelength channels within the broader 1.88 μm water vapor absorption band, namely the 1.83 and 1.93 μm channels that have sufficient differences in ice crystal single scattering albedo, can yield COT and CER retrievals for thin to moderately thick single-layer cirrus that are reasonably consistent with other solar and IR imager-based and lidar-based retrievals. A distinct advantage of this channel selection for cirrus cloud retrievals is that the surface contribution to measured cloudy TOA reflectance is minimized due to below-cloud water vapor absorption, thus reducing retrieval uncertainty resulting from errors in the surface reflectance assumption, as well as reducing the frequency of retrieval failures for thin cirrus clouds.


2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (17-18) ◽  
pp. 10599-10608 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenglong Li ◽  
Jun Li ◽  
Mathew Gunshor ◽  
Szu‐Chia Moeller ◽  
Timothy J. Schmit ◽  
...  

2010 ◽  
Vol 49 (11) ◽  
pp. 2315-2333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Galina Wind ◽  
Steven Platnick ◽  
Michael D. King ◽  
Paul A. Hubanks ◽  
Michael J. Pavolonis ◽  
...  

Abstract Data Collection 5 processing for the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board the NASA Earth Observing System (EOS) Terra and Aqua spacecraft includes an algorithm for detecting multilayered clouds in daytime. The main objective of this algorithm is to detect multilayered cloud scenes, specifically optically thin ice cloud overlying a lower-level water cloud, that present difficulties for retrieving cloud effective radius using single-layer plane-parallel cloud models. The algorithm uses the MODIS 0.94-μm water vapor band along with CO2 bands to obtain two above-cloud precipitable water retrievals, the difference of which, in conjunction with additional tests, provides a map of where multilayered clouds might potentially exist. The presence of a multilayered cloud results in a large difference in retrievals of above-cloud properties between the CO2 and the 0.94-μm methods. In this paper the MODIS multilayered cloud algorithm is described, results of using the algorithm over example scenes are shown, and global statistics for multilayered clouds as observed by MODIS are discussed. A theoretical study of the algorithm behavior for simulated multilayered clouds is also given. Results are compared to two other comparable passive imager methods. A set of standard cloudy atmospheric profiles developed during the course of this investigation is also presented. The results lead to the conclusion that the MODIS multilayer cloud detection algorithm has some skill in identifying multilayered clouds with different thermodynamic phases.


1947 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 330-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernard Hamermesh ◽  
Frederick Reines ◽  
Serge A. Korff

An instrument that measures small absolute humidity changes by the photoelectric examination of the 9,440 Ångstrom-units absorption band of water vapor is described. The instrument consists of a small source of light which sends its radiation over an air path of less than one and a half meters to a dispersing system. The resulting spectrum then is allowed to fall on two vacuum phototubes; one centered in the 9,400 Ångstrom-units absorption band of water vapor, the other located at 8,000 ngstrom units where no water vapor absorption bands exist. As the absolute humidity in the air path is varied, the phototube in the region of the band is affected; whereas the reference phototube is not. The phototubes are arranged in an amplifying circuit so as to magnify the effect of varying humidity. The instrument uses a portable microammeter instead of the sensitive galvanometer of all previous spectral hygrometers. Humidity changes of 2 to 8 × 10−5 centimeter of precipitable water path over 143 centimeters of air path can be measured. An investigation of the small sensitive range of the instrument was carried out and the results indicate that the device is confined to use over a small humidity range with equipment available at the present time.


2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (18) ◽  
pp. 11671-11686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Reichert ◽  
Ralf Sussmann

Abstract. We present a first quantification of the near-infrared (NIR) water vapor continuum absorption from an atmospheric radiative closure experiment carried out at the Zugspitze (47.42° N, 10.98° E; 2964 m a.s.l.). Continuum quantification is achieved via radiative closure using radiometrically calibrated solar Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) absorption spectra covering the 2500 to 7800 cm−1 spectral range. The dry atmospheric conditions at the Zugspitze site (IWV 1.4 to 3.3 mm) enable continuum quantification even within water vapor absorption bands, while upper limits for continuum absorption can be provided in the centers of window regions. Throughout 75 % of the 2500 to 7800 cm−1 spectral range, the Zugspitze results agree within our estimated uncertainty with the widely used MT_CKD 2.5.2 model (Mlawer et al., 2012). In the wings of water vapor absorption bands, our measurements indicate about 2–5 times stronger continuum absorption than MT_CKD, namely in the 2800 to 3000 cm−1 and 4100 to 4200 cm−1 spectral ranges. The measurements are consistent with the laboratory measurements of Mondelain et al. (2015), which rely on cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CDRS), and the calorimetric–interferometric measurements of Bicknell et al. (2006). Compared to the recent FTIR laboratory studies of Ptashnik et al. (2012, 2013), our measurements are consistent within the estimated errors throughout most of the spectral range. However, in the wings of water vapor absorption bands our measurements indicate typically 2–3 times weaker continuum absorption under atmospheric conditions, namely in the 3200 to 3400, 4050 to 4200, and 6950 to 7050 cm−1 spectral regions.


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