HR: 1340h
AN: A23A-0922    [Abstracts]
TI: Trade Wind Cumuli Statistics and the Impact of Finite Resolution Measurements
AU: * Zhao, G
EM: gyzhao@atmos.uiuc.edu
AU: Di Girolamo, L
EM: larry@atmos.uiuc.edu
AB: We present a comprehensive statistical overview of cumulus cloud macrophysical properties over the Tropical Western Atlantic based on measurements taken by the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) between Sep. and Dec., 2004. The size distribution, spatial distribution and shapes of cumulus cloud are examined with ASTER near-infrared data at 15m resolution. The height distribution of these cumulus clouds is derived from ASTER thermal infrared data at 90m resolution. To date, this is the most comprehensive study of the cumulus cloud at such a high spatial resolution and over such a long period. The results from our ASTER analyses show important deviations from previous work on the statistics of cumuli. All statistics are also stratified by different metrological conditions in order to increase their utility in cloud resolving and climate models. The impact of finite resolution measurement on cumuli statistics is also examined with data taken by ASTER, the Multiangle Imaging Spectral Radiometer (MISR), and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). The biases in retrieving aerosol properties and deriving cloud climatology due to coarse resolution measurements are discussed as well.
DE: 0399 General or miscellaneous
SC: Atmospheric Sciences [A]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005