HR: 10:35h
AN: H31F-02    [PDF]
TI: Comparison of CERES Cloud Properties Derived from Aqua and Terra MODIS Data and TRMM VIRS Radiances
AU: * Minnis, P
EM: p.minnis@nasa.gov
AF: NASA Langley Research Center, MS 420, Hampton, VA 23681 United States
AU: Young, D F
EM: d.f.young@larc.nasa.gov
AF: NASA Langley Research Center, MS 420, Hampton, VA 23681 United States
AU: Sun-Mack, S
EM: s.sun-mack@nasa.gov
AF: SAIC, 1 Enterprise Parkway, Hampton, VA 23666 United States
AU: Trepte, Q Z
EM: q.z.trepte@larc.nasa.gov
AF: SAIC, 1 Enterprise Parkway, Hampton, VA 23666 United States
AU: Chen, Y
EM: yan.chen@larc.nasa.gov
AF: SAIC, 1 Enterprise Parkway, Hampton, VA 23666 United States
AU: Heck, P W
EM: p.w.heck@larc.nasa.gov
AF: AS&M, Inc., 1 Enterprise Parkway, Hampton, VA 23666 United States
AU: Wielicki, B A
EM: b.a.wielicki@larc.nasa.gov
AF: NASA Langley Research Center, MS 420, Hampton, VA 23681 United States
AB: The Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Project is obtaining Earth radiation budget measurements of unprecedented accuracy as a result of improved instruments and an analysis system that combines simultaneous, high-resolution cloud property retrievals with the broadband radiance data. The cloud properties are derived from three different satellite imagers: the Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS) on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometers (MODIS) on the Aqua and Terra satellites. A single set of consistent algorithms using the 0.65, 1.6 or 2.1, 3.7, 10.8, and 12.0-æm channels are applied to all three imagers. The cloud properties include, cloud coverage, height, thickness, temperature, optical depth, phase, effective particle size, and liquid or ice water path. Because each satellite is in a different orbit, the results provide information on the diurnal cycle of cloud properties. Initial intercalibrations show excellent consistency between the three images except for some differences of ~ 1K between the 3.7-æm channel on Terra and those on VIRS and Aqua. The derived cloud properties are consistent with the known diurnal characteristics of clouds in different areas. These datasets should be valuable for exploring the role of clouds in the radiation budget and hydrological cycle.
UR: http://lposun.larc.nasa.gov/~cwg/
DE: 0320 Cloud physics and chemistry
DE: 1610 Atmosphere (0315, 0325)
DE: 1640 Remote sensing
DE: 3304 Atmospheric electricity
DE: 3359 Radiative processes
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting