Cloud Climatology over Baltimore

Clouds often serve as indicators for weather phenomena. Aerosol profiling data collected at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (39.2544 N, 76.7095W) was analyzed to determine the seasonal/temporal evolution of clouds over Baltimore. These efforts by the UMBC Atmospheric Lidar Group (https://alg.umbc.edu) contribute to the NOAA Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies (CESSRST) Earth Observing Network. In addition, the cloud climatology will aid in mixing layer height algorithms developed for the Enhanced Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Sites ceilometer network. This network is sponsored by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency and the Maryland Department of the Environment. Obtaining cloud height, thickness and optical depth will allow to implement future machine learning techniques to automate mixing layer height retrievals within this network.