Expected Operational Cloud Observation Improvements with VIIRS on NPP/NPOESS

NPOESS/VIIRS will offer advances over its predecessor (POES/AVHRR) for observing clouds with infrared radiances. It addition to the traditional 11 and 12 micron split-window observations, VIIRS will add a channel at 8.5 microns. In addition, VIIRS will also provide 11 micron measurements globally with a spatial resolution of 375 meters which is far superior to the spatial resolution of 1-4 km provided by POES/AVHRR. This presentation will demonstrate the potential of using this information for estimating and monitoring cirrus cloud properties from NPOESS/VIIRS. Knowledge of cirrus microphysics from infrared measurements provides key insights into cloud evolution during all times of day. Demonstration of this information using MODIS data is provided. CALIPSO observations are also provided to give context to the passive infrared observations.