An Algorithm for Detecting Ice Cloud at Different Altitudes by Combining Dual CrIS Full Spectrum Resolution CO2 Channels

Using infrared sensors to detect ice clouds in different atmospheric layers is still a challenge. The different scattering and absorption properties of longwave and shortwave infrared channels can be utilized to fulfill this purpose.In this study, the release of Suomi-NPP Cross-track Infrared Sounder(Cr IS) full spectrum resolution is used to select and pair channels from longwave(～ 15 μm) and shortwave(～4.3 μm) CO_2 absorption bands under stricter conditions, so as to better detect ice clouds. Besides, the differences of the weighting function peaks and cloud insensitive level altitudes of the paired channels are both within 50 h Pa so that the variances due to atmospheric conditions can be minimized. The training data of clear sky are determined by Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite(VIIRS) cloud mask product and used to find the linear relationship between the paired longwave and shortwave CO_2 absorption channels. From the linear relationship, the so-called cloud emission and scattering index(CESI) is derived to detect ice clouds. CESI clearly captures the center and the ice cloud features of the Super Typhoon Hato located above 415 h Pa. Moreover, the CESI distributions agree with cloud top pressure from the VIIRS in both daytime and nighttime in different atmospheric layers.     

Optimization of the OCO-2 Cloud Screening Algorithm and Evaluation against MODIS and TCCON Measurements over Land Surfaces in Europe and Japan

A method to tighten the cloud screening thresholds based on local conditions is used to provide more stringent schemes for Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2(OCO-2)cloud screening algorithms.Cloud screening strategies are essential to remove scenes with significant cloud and/or aerosol contamination from OCO-2 observations,which helps to save on the data processing cost and ensure high quality retrievals of the column-averaged CO2 dry air mole fraction(XCO2).Based on the radiance measurements in the 0.76μm O2A band,1.61μm(weak),and 2.06μm(strong)CO2 bands,the current combination of the A-Band Preprocessor(ABP)algorithm and Iterative Maximum A Posteriori(IMAP)Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy(DOAS)Preprocessor(IDP)algorithm passes around 20%-25%of all soundings,which means that some contaminated scenes also pass the screening process.In this work,three independent pairs of threshold parameters used in the ABP and IDP algorithms are sufficiently tuned until the overall pass rate is close to the monthly clear-sky fraction from the MODIS cloud mask.The tightened thresholds are applied to observations over land surfaces in Europe and Japan in 2016.The results show improvement of agreement and positive predictive value compared to the collocated MODIS cloud mask,especially in summer and fall.In addition,analysis indicates that XCO2 retrievals with more stringent thresholds are in closer agreement with measurements from collocated Total Carbon Column Observing Network(TCCON)sites.     

Application of aircraft observations over Beijing in cloud microphysical property retrievals from CloudSat

Cloud microphysical property retrievals from the active microwave instrument on a satellite require the cloud droplet size distribution obtained from aircraft observations as a priori data in the iteration procedure.The cloud lognormal size distributions derived from 12 flights over Beijing,China,in 2008-09 were characterized to evaluate and improve regional CloudSat cloud water content retrievals.We present the distribution parameters of stratiform cloud droplet （diameter ＜500 tm and ＜1500 μm） and discuss the effect of large particles on distribution parameter fitting.Based on three retrieval schemes with different lognormal size distribution parameters,the vertical distribution of cloud liquid and ice water content were derived and then compared with the aircraft observations.The results showed that the liquid water content （LWC） retrievals from large particle size distributions were more consistent with the vertical distribution of cloud water content profiles derived from in situ data on 25 September 2006.We then applied two schemes with different a priori data derived from flight data to CloudSat overpasses in northern China during April-October in 2008 and 2009.The CloudSat cloud water path （CWP） retrievals were compared with Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer （MODIS） liquid water path （LWP） data.The results indicated that considering a priori data including large particle size information can significantly improve the consistency between the CloudSat CWP and MODIS CWP.These results strongly suggest that it is necessary to consider particles with diameters greater than 50 tm in CloudSat LWC retrievals.     

京津冀地区夏季降水冰云和非降水冰云云特征对比分析

利用2013～2016年的Aqua MODIS卫星和CloudSat卫星的二级产品资料,对发生在京津冀地区夏季的降水冰云和非降水冰云进行了统计。基于此,对比分析了两类冰云的云类型,研究了二者在云特征参数、云层数及垂直结构上的差异,并且探究了二者在不同通道下云特征参数的相对大小。结果表明:1）京津冀地区的降水冰云以深对流云和雨层云为主,分别占48.63%和34.65%,而非降水冰云以高层云和卷云为主,分别占55.62%和31.58%。2）降水冰云和非降水冰云的平均云顶温度、云顶高度、光学厚度、积分云水总量、有效粒子半径分别为230.99 K、10.90 km、53.26、937.98 g/m2、31.45m和236.17 K、10.10 km、12.81、209.00 g/m2、27.54 μm。3）降水冰云以单层云为主,占80.39%,双层云占18.75%;而非降水冰云仍以单层云为主,占85.35%,双层云则占14.38%,比降水冰云低。4）相较于非降水冰云,降水冰云中卷云和高积云云体位置较高,而高层云和深对流云位置较低。5）随高度变化,降水冰云冰水含量是双峰结构,而非降水冰云是单峰结构;二者的粒子数浓度则差异不大;非降水冰云的粒子有效半径在5～7.5 km随高度变化不大,而降水冰云则随高度减小。6）降水冰云的积分云水总量、光学厚度和粒子有效半径>≥模态[、、分别代表该云特征参数在1.6、2.1、3.7 μm通道中的数值,当n=1, 2, 3时,分别代表光学厚度（b₁）、积分云水总量（b₂）、有效半径这三种（b₃）]的比例都高于非降水冰云,而二者在云参数≥≥模态的比例则有差异。     

Validation of Forecast Cloud Parameters from Multispectral AIRS Radiances

The well-known CO₂ slicing technique which provides retrievals of cloud parameters (effective height and amount) is adapted in light of model validation using multispectral infrared sounders. The technique is applied to both real Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) radiances and to corresponding radiances simulated from global 6 h and 12 h forecasts for the 31 days of July 2008. The forecast model is the one used operationally at the Canadian Meteorological Centre. Radiances are simulated from the Radiative Transfer for the Television and Infrared Observation Satellite (TIROS) Operational Vertical Sounder (RTTOV) model. When compared to model output of cloud parameters, simulated retrievals help us understand systematic biases linked to the retrieval technique. Systematic errors of interest, attributed to forecast cloud parameters, are then more clearly assessed from real retrievals. This is the central idea of this paper. The proposed definition of model cloud top, based on cloud transmittance, corresponds well to the height derived from the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) instrument. These lidar-derived cloud heights, in turn, confirm the nature of the biases produced by the CO₂ slicing technique (e.g., a negative bias increasing with height to about 2 km (approximately 50 hPa) for the highest clouds at 16 km (approximately 100 hPa)). Results suggest that the model has a tendency to produce an excess of low-level clouds below 2 km, compensated for by a deficit from 3 to 6 km. No significant differences are found between 6 h and 12 h forecast monthly fields, an indication that the model has sufficiently spun-up after a few hours. Retrieved global monthly cloud parameter fields are compared to independently derived products available from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) and AIRS standard processing. Significant differences are noted, linked to the different retrieval approaches, input data and resolution. This is further evidence that, for validation purposes, definitions of observed and model parameters must be consistent.     

Cloud mapping from the earth's surface using infrared radiance contrasts*

Abstract

Radiance criteria for distinguishing low, middle, and high clouds in the 9.5–11.5 μm band of the infrared are developed and used to produce local cloud maps. The performance of this radiance contrast method for mapping clouds from the earth's surface is evaluated with a view to using the technique for objective observation of cloud amount and distribution in the sky hemisphere.

Discrimination radiance formulas are developed using a multilayer, wavenumber‐specific infrared radiative transfer model including cloud parameters measured by other workers and atmospheric conditions measured by radiosonde. The clear sky radiance (N₀) is the dominant independent variable in the discrimination formulas. The variation of N₀ with time (primarily due to changes in atmospheric water vapour content) and zenith angle are found to be important in distinguishing cirriform clouds from clear sky and other clouds.

The local cloud maps are produced by applying the discrimination radiances (in voltage form) to the output from a narrow‐view infrared radiometer pointed at a sky‐scanning mirror. It is necessary to assume that the radiance from a cloud observed at the surface decreases unambiguously with an increase in cloud base height. Cloud maps for five days in July 1978 indicate the mapping technique shows promise under a wide range of sky conditions. Cloud motions rapidly degrade the maps’ quality over time‐scales that are much less than the current manual cloud sampling period of 1 h.     

A validation of the multivariate and minimum residual method for cloud retrieval using radiance from multiple satellites

The Multivariate and Minimum Residual(MMR) cloud detection and retrieval algorithm, previously developed and tested on simulated observations and Advanced Infrared Sounder radiance, was explored and validated using various radiances from multiple sensors. For validation, the cloud retrievals were compared to independent cloud products from Cloud Sat, MODIS(Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer), and GOES(Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites). We found good spatial agreement within a single instrument, although the cloud fraction on each pixel was estimated independently. The retrieved cloud properties showed good agreement using radiances from multiple satellites, especially for the vertically integrated cloud mask. The accuracy of the MMR scheme in detecting mid-level clouds was found to be higher than for higher and lower clouds. The accuracy in retrieving cloud top pressures and cloud profiles increased with more channels from observations. For observations with fewer channels, the MMR solution was an "overly smoothed" estimation of the true vertical profile, starting from a uniform clear guess. Additionally, the retrieval algorithm showed some meaningful skill in simulating the cloudy radiance as a linear observation operator, discriminating between numerical weather prediction(NWP) error and cloud effects. The retrieval scheme was also found to be robust when different radiative transfer models were used. The potential application of the MMR algorithm in NWP with multiple radiances is also discussed.     

联合星载毫米波雷达和中分辨率光谱成像仪的云底高度反演

云底高度是云重要的宏观物理参数。本文基于MODIS和CPR探测得到的可见光、红外和毫米波数据,提出了用主成分分析(Principal Component Analysis,PCA)和BP神经网络反演云底高度的新方法,并以相对湿度阈值法处理探空资料所获取的云底高度为基准,对PCA-BP法和CloudSat产品获取的云底高度进行了对比分析。结果表明:对绝大部分类型的云,PCA-BP法的反演偏差小于CloudSat产品。PCA-BP法和CloudSat产品反演的云底高度在夏季偏低,在其他季节偏高,且PCA-BP法与探空仪的均方根误差在所有季节均小于CloudSat产品,两者反演的云底高度具有一致的季节特征,即夏高冬低。PCA-BP法和CloudSat产品所获取的云底高度随纬度升高有减小趋势,在不同地区,两者具有不同的反演效果,反演误差随纬度升高而逐渐减小,对比结果说明了PCA-BP法反演云底高度具有一定的可行性。     

基于星载微波雷达和激光雷达探测的夏季云顶高度及云量差异分析

云是天气与气候变化的重要影响因子,准确估量云顶高度和云量对分析云特性、降水及强天气预报、估算云辐射强迫等都具有重要意义。利用2006-2010年6-8月CloudSat卫星搭载的微波云廓线雷达（CPR,简称微波雷达）和CALIPSO卫星搭载的云-气溶胶偏振激光雷达（CALIOP,简称激光雷达）的探测资料,分析了全球云顶高度及云量的空间分布特征。结果表明,热带地区微波雷达探测云顶高度平均比激光雷达低约4 km,但均超过12 km;副热带洋面云顶高度在4 km以下,且两部雷达探测的云顶高度差异存在地域性。微波雷达对薄云、云砧及云顶高度低于2.5 km的低云存在漏判,对厚云的云顶高度偏低估;微波雷达探测的全球总云量均值为51.1%,比激光雷达少23.3%;两者给出的云量分布也存在显著的海-陆差异,其中洋面云量差异更大,如微波雷达测出局部洋面云量为80%,而激光雷达的探测结果却超过90%。由于激光雷达发射波长短,对云顶微小粒子比较敏感,而微波雷达波长较长,对相对较小粒子的探测存在局限性。因此,激光雷达对云顶高度的探测优于微波雷达。此结果不仅加强了对激光雷达和微波雷达探测原理的认识,而且进一步理解了云的气候特征。     

A practical approach for the assimilation of cloudy infrared radiances and its evaluation using airs simulated observations

Abstract

A variational estimation procedure for the simultaneous retrieval of cloud parameters and thermodynamic profiles from infrared radiances is proposed. The method is based on a cloud emissivity model which accounts for the frequency dependence of cloud absorption and scattering and possible mixed phase situations. An effective cloud top height and emissivity are assumed. Monte Carlo experiments performed in a 1D‐var assimilation context using simulated Atmospheric Infrared Radiance Sounder (AIRS) observations from 100 channels demonstrate the substantial added value, in theory, of cloudy radiance assimilation as opposed to clear‐channel assimilation. Improved temperature and humidity retrievals are obtained for a broad layer above the cloud as well as below cloud level under partial cloud cover conditions. The impact is most pronounced in broken to overcast situations involving mid‐level clouds. In these situations, the effective cloud top height and emissivity are retrieved with estimated rms errors typically lower than 30 hPa and 3%, respectively. Expected relative errors on the retrieved effective particle size are of the order of 30–50%. The methodology is directly applicable to real hyperspectral infrared data upon inclusion, for local estimation, of the cloud parameters in the Canadian 4D‐var assimilation system.     

基于IASI双二氧化碳通道的一种不同高度云检测算法

利用红外高光谱探测仪（Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer,IASI）在二氧化碳吸收带的长短波红外通道对云反应程度的不同来探测云。依据不同通道的权重函数峰值高度和云不敏感层高度将IASI长短波红外通道进行配对,成功配对的长短波红外通道晴空亮温之间建立线性回归模型,即通过长波红外通道亮温可以线性回归得到配对的短波通道亮温,将短波通道的晴空回归亮温和观测亮温之差定义为云指数。权重函数峰值高度位于383 hPa的云指数空间分布和云成分为冰的空间分布较为一致,尤其在赤道和低纬度地区。权重函数峰值高度位于790 hPa的云指数空间分布和低云云顶气压也有较好的一致性。     

The representation of tropical upper tropospheric water in EC Earth V2

Tropical upper tropospheric humidity, clouds, and ice water content, as well as outgoing longwave radiation (OLR), are evaluated in the climate model EC Earth with the aid of satellite retrievals. The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder and Microwave Limb Sounder together provide good coverage of relative humidity. EC Earth’s relative humidity is in fair agreement with these observations. CloudSat and CALIPSO data are combined to provide cloud fractions estimates throughout the altitude region considered (500–100?hPa). EC Earth is found to overestimate the degree of cloud cover above 200?hPa and underestimate it below. Precipitating and non-precipitating EC Earth ice definitions are combined to form a complete ice water content. EC Earth’s ice water content is below the uncertainty range of CloudSat above 250?hPa, but can be twice as high as CloudSat’s estimate in the melting layer. CERES data show that the model underestimates the impact of clouds on OLR, on average with about 9?W?m^?2. Regionally, EC Earth’s outgoing longwave radiation can be ～20?W?m^?2 higher than the observation. A comparison to ERA-Interim provides further perspectives on the model’s performance. Limitations of the satellite observations are emphasised and their uncertainties are, throughout, considered in the analysis. Evaluating multiple model variables in parallel is a more ambitious approach than is customary.     

基于亮温通道变率的FY-3C微波湿度计陆地云检测新方法

云检测是卫星资料同化的重要前处理步骤,无论是晴空资料同化还是有云资料同化,都需要准确地区分有云和晴空资料。由于陆地地表发射率的多变性和微波能穿透部分云类的特点,微波湿度计资料在陆地上空的云检测研究一直是难点。利用快速辐射传输模式（CRTM）分析了不同云类条件下FY-3C微波湿度计（MWHS-Ⅱ）各通道亮温的通道间变率特征,根据MWHS-Ⅱ亮温通道间变率随云高以及云中液态水含量的增大而减小的特点,提出了一个基于亮温通道变率的MWHS-Ⅱ陆地资料云检测方法。与已有的云产品比较结果表明:新的云检测算法能有效地剔除大部分受云影响的资料,剔除后的晴空资料观测和模拟偏差更好地符合高斯分布。新方法对过冷水云、冰云、重叠云的检测能力较强,正确检测率可以达到80%,对卷云以及高度较低的水云的检测能力相对较弱。新方法能有效利用MWHS-Ⅱ观测资料自身完成云检测,在MWHS-Ⅱ资料同化中有很好的应用前景。      

基于A-Train综合资料的云顶高度反演研究

提出一种适用性较强的云顶高度反演方法。利用2007年低纬地区(15°S~15°N)的A-Train综合资料反演云顶高度。首先以M0DIS通道31和通道32的亮温值为特征参数,基于SVM分类法,将云分为不透明云、半透明云和透明云三类,分类准确率达到90.6%。然后对三类云分别用核回归法反演云顶高度,将其与CloudSat的2B-GEOPROF-LIDAR产品对比,均方根误差分别为0.95、1.17和1.27 km。与未分类的核回归法结果相比,分类后三种云的反演误差都有所减小。最后分析了三个典型个例。该方法可推广至其他含有红外分裂窗通道的卫星上,发挥更多卫星资源的效用。     

近红外CO2高光谱探测仪通道选择

近红外波段 (1.6 μm) 遥感可探测大气CO₂含量信息,应用于碳循环研究中。宽波段、高分辨率不但对仪器研制是一个挑战,而且巨大的数据量对观测的正演、反演也是一个挑战性课题。该文应用自由度及信息量分析法,对近红外高光谱波段中探测通道进行CO₂信息量分析,选择前20~100个高信息量的CO₂探测通道,并进行了反演模拟测试。结果表明:前20个高信息量通道占所有通道总信息量的76.4%,仅用所选的前20个通道进行反演,与所有通道参加反演的结果相比,误差增加0.3×10-6;通道数增至60时,信息量增加,通道数再增加,信息量则增加不显著;CO₂反演误差存在相似的关系。在高CO₂信息量分布上,弱吸收性质的1.6 μm波段和强吸收性质的2.06 μm波段表现出不同特点。     

Tropospheric ozone chemistry. The impact of cloud chemistry

The effect of clouds and cloud chemistry on tropospheric ozone chemistry is tested out in a two-dimensional channel model covering a latitudinal band from 30 to 60° N. Three different methods describing how clouds affect gaseous species are applied, and the results are compared. The three methods are:

?A first order parameterization scheme for the removal of sulphur and other soluble gases by liquid droplets.

?A parameterization scheme for SO₂, O₃, and H₂O₂ removal is constructed. The scheme is based on the solubility of gases in liquid droplets, cycling times of air masses between clouds and cloud free areas and on the chemical interaction of SO₂ with H₂O₂ and O₃ in the liquid phase.

?Gas-aqueous-phase interactions and aqueous-phase chemical reactions are included in the reaction scheme for a number of components in areas where clouds are present.

In all three methods, a full gas-phase chemistry scheme is used. Particular emphasis is given to the study of how the ozone and hydrogen peroxide levels are affected. Significant changes in the distributions are found when aqueous-phase chemical reactions are included. The result is loss of ozone in the aqueous phase, with pronounced reductions in ozone levels in the middle and lower troposphere. Ozone levels are reduced by 10 to 30% with the largest reductions in the remote middle troposphere, bringing the values in better agreement with observations. Changes in H₂O₂ are harder to predict. Although, in one case study, hydrogen peroxide is produced within the aqueous phase, concentrations are mostly comparable or even lower than in the other cases. Hydrogen peroxide levels are, however, shown to be very pH sensitive. pH values around 5 seem to favour high H₂O₂ levels. High H₂O₂ concentrations may be found particularly in the upper part of the clouds under favourable conditions.     

基于CloudSat卫星资料分析青藏高原东部夏季云的垂直结构

本文利用CloudSat卫星资料,对青藏高原东部2006~2010年6~8月云垂直结构的空间分布进行分析,结果表明:(1)夏季青藏高原东部云发展可达到平流层,且高原东部云在5km以下以水云存在,5~10km以液相和固相共存的混态存在,在垂直高度10km以上以冰云存在。由于CloudSat卫星资料云相的反演问题,可能会造成水云和混态云的发展上限偏低,冰云的发展下限抬升。(2)研究区整层水汽输送和云水平均路径空间分布存在一定的差异性,云水含量纬向分布表现为在26.5°~30.5°N附近存在一个明显的峰值区,经向分布表现为95°E以西云水含量低于以东。(3)研究区以单云层为主,尤其在青藏高原主体。单云层平均云层厚度4182 m,云顶高度、云厚限于水汽的输送,表现为由南向北波动下降。多层云发生频率在27°N以北明显减少,说明强烈的对流运动更容易激发多层云的产生。     

A Method for Retrieving Vertical Ozone Profiles from Limb Scattered Measurements

A two-step method is employed in this study to retrieve vertical ozone profiles using scattered measure- ments from the limb of the atmosphere. The combination of the Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) and the Multiplicative Algebraic Reconstruction Technique (MART) is proposed. First, the limb radiance, measured over a range of tangent heights, is processed using the DOAS technique to recover the effective column densities of atmospheric ozone. Second, these effective column densities along the lines of sight (LOSs) are inverted using the MART coupled with a forward model SCIATRAN (radiative transfer model for SCIAMACHY) to derive the ozone profiles. This method is applied to Optical Spectrograph and Infra Red Imager System (OSIRIS) radiance, using the wavelength windows 571-617 nm. Vertical ozone profiles between 10 and 48 km are derived with a vertical resolution of 1 km. The results illustrate a good agreement with the cloud-free coincident SCanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CHartographY (SCIAMACHY) ozone measurements, with deviations less than ± 10% ( ± 5% for altitudes from 17 to 47 km). Furthermore, sensitivities of retrieved ozone to aerosol, cloud parameters and NO 2 concentration are also investigated.     

Impact of assimilating IASI radiance observations on forecasts of two tropical cyclones

The impact of assimilating Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) radiance observations on the analyses and forecasts of Hurricane Maria (2011) and Typhoon Megi (2010) is assessed using Weather Research and Forecasting Data Assimilation (WRFDA). A cloud-detection scheme (McNally and Watts 2003) was implemented in WRFDA for cloud contamination detection for radiances measured by high spectral resolution infrared sounders. For both Hurricane Maria and Typhoon Megi, IASI radiances with channels around 15-μm CO₂ band had consistent positive impact on the forecast skills for track, minimum sea level pressure, and maximum wind speed. For Typhoon Megi, the error reduction appeared to be more pronounced for track than for minimum sea level pressure and maximum wind. The sensitivity experiments with 6.7-μm H₂O band were also conducted. The 6.7-μm band also had some positive impact on the track and minimum sea level pressure. The improvement for maximum wind speed forecasts from the 6.7-μm band was evident, especially for the first 42 h. The 15-μm band consistently improved specific humidity forecast and we found improved temperature and horizontal wind forecast on most levels. Generally, assimilating the 6.7-μm band degraded forecasts, likely indicating the inefficiency of the current WRF model and/or data assimilation system for assimilating these channels. IASI radiance assimilation apparently improved depiction of dynamic and thermodynamic vortex structures.     

广西南宁冬季层状暖云微物理特征的飞机观测分析

利用运十二飞机在2012年冬季广西南宁地区开展的12架次层状暖云微物理探测资料进行分析,统计和观测结果表明,层状暖云垂直方向分层显著。存在逆温是典型宏观特征,降水云基本都为多层逆温,逆温位置主要出现在云顶附近。云滴平均浓度为652±607个/cm3;无降水云比降水云云滴平均浓度略大,分别为678±348个/cm3和615±363个/cm3。平均液水含量为1.03±0.73 g/m3,其中降水云远大于无降水云,分别为1.3±0.9 g/m3和0.88±0.6 g/m3。平均有效直径为18.2±5.6 μm,降水云略大于无降水云,分别为19.4±5.0 μm和17.3±6.0 μm。垂直分布上,云滴数浓度在接近地面的下层云中最大,峰值区主要出现在云底,且随高度一般呈现递减趋势。云滴谱分布显示在6.5 μm出现次峰值。降水云中大云滴主要出现在接近地面的下层云中,而无降水云中几乎没有观测到大云滴。