JP1.13
Algorithm of the CloudSat Geometrical Profile: Significant Echo Mask and Comparison of the Radar Significant Echo Profile with the MODIS Cloud Mask Product
Qiuqing Zhang, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT; and G. G. Mace and R. Marchand
CloudSat is an experimental satellite designed to measure the vertical structure of clouds from space with the Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR). Its orbit will be in formation with the EOS PM1 satellite (Aqua). The Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) in Aqua will provide significant information on the occurrence and horizontal distribution of clouds within the CloudSat footprint.
We develop an algorithm that will be implemented operationally to identify significant radar echo in the CloudSat data stream. This algorithm will (1) examine the characteristics of each range resolution volume to determine if the radar data for that volume is significantly different from the radar noise characteristics and, thus, deemed to contain hydrometeors, (2) quantify the likelihood that a given range resolution volume with characteristics different from noise actually contains hydrometeors, (3) compare the radar significant echo profile with the information from the MODIS cloud mask. The algorithm is tested with the MMCR data from the ARM sites and the MODIS cloud mask product. We will present a detail description of the algorithm and a demonstration of results using a test data set.
Joint Poster Session 1, Cloud Remote Sensing (Joint between 11th Cloud Physics and 11th Atmospheric Radiation)
Monday, 3 June 2002, 1:00 PM-3:00 PM
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