A Band-Differenced Angular Signature Technique for Cirrus Cloud Detection

Larry Di Girolamo, Roger Davies

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A new approach to cloud detection is introduced that exploits the difference between two solar spectral reflectances as a function of view angle. The resulting band-differenced angular signature is sensitive to the contribution of Rayleigh scattering from above the tops of clouds and can be used to discriminate high clouds from lower level clouds and clear sky. We use model simulations to show that this technique could be applied to measurements from the Multiangle Imaging SpectroRadiometer, scheduled for launch on the first platform of the Earth Observing System. Results show the technique to work best over ocean and snow surfaces. Over such surfaces, the minimum detectable high cloud optical thickness (at 0.55 µm) would typically be 0.5 without the use of any a priori scene information, and lower if such information is available.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)890-896
Number of pages7
JournalIEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing
Volume32
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1994
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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