12th Conference on Atmospheric Radiation

P4.46

Investigation of marine boundary layer cloud properties using MODIS Level-3 and AMSR-E Ocean Products

Lori A. Borg, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI; and R. Bennartz

The role of clouds in climate change represents a major source of uncertainty in climate modeling. In order to better understand this uncertainty, satellite observations can be used to characterize cloud properties and their relationships. This study is a survey of warm (cloud-top temperatures > 273K) boundary layer clouds over the global oceans using MODIS Level-3 and AMSR-E Ocean Products from the AQUA satellite. Cloud radiative, microphysical, and macrophysical properties are investigated and correlated with surface parameters, such as sea-surface temperature. Initial analysis indicates a clear correlation between AMSR-E liquid water path and MODIS effective radius, which is positive for almost all locations. A small number of regions of negative correlations exist and work is underway to explain this seemingly unphysical result.

Poster Session 4, Radiation Poster Session IV: Remote Sensing
Wednesday, 12 July 2006, 5:00 PM-7:00 PM, Grand Terrace

Previous paper  Next paper

Browse or search entire meeting

AMS Home Page