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ISCCP DEFINITION OF CLOUD TYPES
Cloud Parameter Definitions And Measurement Methods
Cloud cover fraction
This parameter represents the fractional area covered by clouds
as observed from above by satellites. It is estimated by counting the
number of satellite fields-of-view (called pixels, about 5 km across
for ISCCP) that are determined to be cloudy and dividing by the total
number of pixels in a region about 280 km across. Cloud amount for
lower-level clouds is only that fraction of the area actually observed
to be covered by clouds at that level. This way of determining cloud
amount assumes that each cloudy pixel is covered completely by clouds.
Cloud top pressure
This parameter represents the location of the "radiating" top of the
clouds; if there is a very tenuous upper portion, this value may be
below where the first cloud particles are found. Cloud top pressure is
determined from cloud top temperature, which the satellite measures more
directly, using a profile of atmospheric temperature with pressure. It
can be considered as equivalent to cloud top height above mean sea level.
Cloud top temperature and its mesoscale variability
The satellite measures the infrared radiation emitted by the cloudy
scene, which is assumed to be covered completely by clouds at one level.
If the cloud is optically thick, it radiates like a blackbody so that the
observed emission is equivalent to the actual temperature at the top (if
the upper portion of the cloud is tenuous, then the radiating level will
be within the cloud). If the cloud is optically thin, then the emission
will appear to be larger than that for the cloud top temperature because
additional radiation is transmitted from the warmer atmosphere and
surface below. The ISCCP parameter has been corrected for this effect
using the measured optical thickness to determine the transmission
(daytime only). The actual emission from a larger area, about 280 km
across, is produced by a mixture of clouds at different levels; the
deviation of this emission from that by a single cloud layer with the
average temperature increases as the mesoscale variations of temperature
increase. The mesoscale variability of cloud top temperature is
represented by the time-averaged, spatial standard deviation.
Cloud optical thickness and its mesoscale variability
This parameter represents the optical thickness of clouds at visible
wavelengths (approximately 0.6 microns). It is determined from the
satellite-measured visible solar reflectivity of cloudy scenes, assuming
that the pixel is uniformly covered by clouds. The retrieval depends on
an assumed particle size and shape. The standard ISCCP products assume
that clouds warmer than 260 K are liquid clouds composed of spherical
droplets with an effective radius of 10 microns and that colder clouds
are ice clouds composed of crystals with a fractal shape (aspect ratio
unity) that have an effective radius of 30 microns. The albedo of a cloud
covering a larger area, about 280 km across, is reduced by the mesoscale
variations of optical thickness; however, the ISCCP optical thickness
values are averaged so as to give the correct albedo. If the mesoscale
variability is needed to correct for this variability, then we provide a
parameter, epsilon, that can be used for this purpose.
Cloud Water Path
This parameter combines the measured cloud optical thickness with the
assumed particle size distribution to calculate the column mass density
of the cloud. The values given assume that the whole cloud layer has the
same water phase and particle size as at the top.
Cloud Particle Size and Revised Optical Thickness
An advanced analysis, exploiting an additional wavelength, allows for
the retrieval of cloud particle size and the consistent optical thickness.
Since these data are available only from the polar orbiting weather
satellites and since the measurement uses reflected sunlight, we obtain
only one measurement per day from each polar orbiter. We provide the
climatology of cloud particle sizes and revised optical thickness values
here.
Cloud Types
A value of cloud top pressure and optical thickness is obtained for each
cloudy pixel during the daytime. This information can be used to classify
different cloud types as shown in the figure. The cloud type names here
represent only an approximate climatological relationship between the
satellite-measured optical parameters and the classical morphological
cloud types. However, a detailed comparison of the satellite and
surface-based cloud observations supports this assignment of names.
Cloud Layer Structure
Satellites do not yet observe the vertical layer structure of clouds;
they see only the uppermost cloud layer at each location. Likewise,
surface observations of clouds see only the lowermost cloud layer at each
location. However, weather balloons routine determine vertical profiles
of temperature and humidity, which can be used to infer the cloudy layers
by looking for height levels where the relative humidity is very high.
Weather balloons do not provide good global coverage, however, being
concentrated mostly in northern hemisphere land areas. A climatology of
cloud layer distributions is provided here based on the weather balloon
humidity profiles. Within the next few years, the first satellite cloud
radar and lidars will fly that will provide more detailed measurements of
cloud vertical distribution.
Cloud Base Pressure
This parameter represents the average pressure at the base of the lowest
cloud layer at each location. It is determined by combining the ISCCP
cloud top pressure with the climatology of cloud layer thicknesses and
layer structures obtained from weather balloons, where a particular
vertical structure is assigned to each ISCCP cloud type shown above.
Cloud Base Temperature
This parameter represents the average temperature at the cloud base of
the lowest cloud at each location. It is determined from the cloud base
pressure and an atmospheric profile of temperature versus pressure.
New Cloud Datasets: D2 Monthly Means and Climatology
