STUDY ON CLOUD CLASSIFICATIONS BY USING AVHRR,GMS-5 AND TERRA/MODIS SATELLITE DATA*

This paper presents the automated pixel-scale neural network classification methods being developed at National Satellite Meteorological Center(NSMC) of China to classify clouds by using NOAA/AVHRR and GMS-5 satellite imageries.By using Terra satellite MODIS imageries,an automated pixel-scale threshold technique has been developed to detect and classify clouds.The study focuses on applications of these cloud classification techniques to the Huaihe River and the Changjiang(Yangtze) River drainage basin.The different types of clouds show more clearly on this cloud classification image than single band image.The results of the cloud classifications are the basis of studying cloud amount,cloud top height and cloud top pressure.Cloud mask method sare widely used in SST,LST,and TPW retrieval schemes.Some case studies about cloud mask and cloud classification in satellite imageries,which are related with the study of Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment(GEWEX) in the Huaihe River and the Changjiang River drainage basin are illustrated.