How well can infrared sounders observe the atmosphere and surface through clouds?

Daniel K. Zhou; Allen M. Larar; Xu Liu; William L. Smith; L. Larrabee Strow; Ping Yang

doi:10.1117/12.869545

12 November 2010 How well can infrared sounders observe the atmosphere and surface through clouds?

Daniel K. Zhou, Allen M. Larar, Xu Liu, William L. Smith, L. Larrabee Strow, Ping Yang

Proceedings Volume 7857, Multispectral, Hyperspectral, and Ultraspectral Remote Sensing Technology, Techniques, and Applications III; 785704 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.869545
Event: SPIE Asia-Pacific Remote Sensing, 2010, Incheon, Korea, Republic of

Abstract

Infrared sounders, such as the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI), and the Cross-track Infrared sounder (CrIS), have a cloud-impenetrable disadvantage in observing the atmosphere and surface under opaque cloudy conditions. However, recent studies indicate that hyperspectral, infrared sounders have the ability to detect cloud effective-optical and microphysical properties and to penetrate optically thin clouds in observing the atmosphere and surface to a certain degree. We have developed a retrieval scheme dealing with atmospheric conditions with cloud presence. This scheme can be used to analyze the retrieval accuracy of atmospheric and surface parameters under clear and cloudy conditions. In this paper, we present the surface emissivity results derived from IASI global measurements under both clear and cloudy conditions. The accuracy of surface emissivity derived under cloudy conditions is statistically estimated in comparison with those derived under clear sky conditions. The retrieval error caused by the clouds is shown as a function of cloud optical depth, which helps us to understand how well infrared sounders can observe the atmosphere and surface through clouds.

Citation Download Citation

Daniel K. Zhou, Allen M. Larar, Xu Liu, William L. Smith, L. Larrabee Strow, and Ping Yang "How well can infrared sounders observe the atmosphere and surface through clouds?", Proc. SPIE 7857, Multispectral, Hyperspectral, and Ultraspectral Remote Sensing Technology, Techniques, and Applications III, 785704 (12 November 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.869545

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