Simulations of Infrared Radiances over a Deep Convective Cloud System Observed during TC4: Potential for Enhancing Nocturnal Ice Cloud Retrievals

Patrick Minnis; Gang Hong; J. Kirk Ayers; William L. Smith; Christopher R. Yost; Andrew J. Heymsfield; Gerald M. Heymsfield; Dennis L. Hlavka; Michael D. King; Errol Korn; Matthew J. McGill; Henry B. Selkirk; Anne M. Thompson; Lin Tian; Ping Yang

doi:10.3390/rs4103022

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Simulations of Infrared Radiances over a Deep Convective Cloud System Observed during TC4: Potential for Enhancing Nocturnal Ice Cloud Retrievals

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Simulations of Infrared Radiances over a Deep Convective Cloud System Observed during TC4: Potential for Enhancing Nocturnal Ice Cloud Retrievals

Patrick Minnis, Gang Hong, J. Kirk Ayers, William L. Smith, Christopher R. Yost, Andrew J. Heymsfield, Gerald M. Heymsfield, Dennis L. Hlavka, Michael D. King, Errol Korn, …

Remote sensing (Basel, Switzerland), Vol.4(10), pp.3022-3054

10/01/2012

DOI: 10.3390/rs4103022

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Abstract

Retrievals of ice cloud properties using infrared measurements at 3.7, 6.7, 7.3, 8.5, 10.8, and 12.0 mu m can provide consistent results regardless of solar illumination, but are limited to cloud optical thicknesses tau < similar to 6. This paper investigates the variations in radiances at these wavelengths over a deep convective cloud system for their potential to extend retrievals of tau and ice particle size D-e to optically thick clouds. Measurements from an imager, an interferometer, the Cloud Physics Lidar (CPL), and the Cloud Radar System (CRS) aboard the NASA ER-2 aircraft during the NASA TC4 (Tropical Composition, Cloud and Climate Coupling) experiment flight during 5 August 2007, are used to examine the retrieval potential of infrared radiances over optically thick ice clouds. Simulations based on coincident in situ measurements and combined cloud tau from CRS and CPL measurements are comparable to the observations. They reveal that brightness temperatures at these bands and their differences (BTD) are sensitive to tau up to similar to 20 and that for ice clouds having tau > 20, the 3.7-10.8 mu m and 3.7-6.7 mu m BTDs are the most sensitive to D-e. Satellite imagery appears to be consistent with these results suggesting that t and D-e could be retrieved for greater optical thicknesses than previously assumed. But, because of sensitivity of the BTDs to uncertainties in the atmospheric profiles of temperature, humidity, and ice water content, and sensor noise, exploiting the small BTD signals in retrieval algorithms will be very challenging.

Environmental Sciences

Environmental Sciences & Ecology

Geology

Geosciences, Multidisciplinary

Imaging Science & Photographic Technology

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Physical Sciences

Remote Sensing

Science & Technology

Technology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Simulations of Infrared Radiances over a Deep Convective Cloud System Observed during TC4: Potential for Enhancing Nocturnal Ice Cloud Retrievals
Creators: Patrick Minnis - Langley Research Center
Gang Hong - Science Systems and Applications (United States)
J. Kirk Ayers - Science Systems and Applications (United States)
William L. Smith - Langley Research Center
Christopher R. Yost - Science Systems and Applications (United States)
Andrew J. Heymsfield - NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research
Gerald M. Heymsfield - Goddard Space Flight Center
Dennis L. Hlavka - Science Systems and Applications (United States)
Michael D. King - Colorado, University Boulder, CO, United States
Errol Korn - NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research
Matthew J. McGill - Goddard Space Flight Center
Henry B. Selkirk - Universities Space Research Association
Anne M. Thompson - Pennsylvania State University
Lin Tian - Morgan State University
Ping Yang - Texas A&M University
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Remote sensing (Basel, Switzerland), Vol.4(10), pp.3022-3054
DOI: 10.3390/rs4103022
ISSN: 2072-4292
eISSN: 2072-4292
Publisher: Mdpi
Number of pages: 33
Grant note: NASA Modeling, Analysis, and Prediction Program; National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) TC4 NASA CERES NOAA GOES-R Program; National Oceanic Atmospheric Admin (NOAA) - USA
Language: English
Date published: 10/01/2012
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy; Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
Record Identifier: 9984277262602771

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