Global Vertical Cloud Structure

3D cloud structure information is important for a wide range of weather and climate studies. While satellites have provided valuable cloud observations, data from conventional passive radiometers is often limited to cloud-top properties. Using NASA A-Train satellite data, we have been developing cloud products (Cloud Base Height, Cloud Geometric Thickness, Cloud Cover Layers using cloud base data) to estimate the vertical distribution of clouds from operational, passive satellite observations, which are currently part of the NOAA Enterprise Cloud Algorithm Suite. While leveraging these research efforts and being mindful of the current/future of global cloud data development activities such as the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Product—Next Generation (ISCCP-NG) and Air Force’s World Wide Merged Cloud Analysis (WWMCA) in parallel, OVERCAST extends this work to achieve global coverage, integrating various satellite sensor observations. This work will support weather applications for Navy missions in analyzing and predicting environmental conditions on a global scale, as well as advanced climate research.

Goals:

• To create a global 3D atmospheric cloud field analysis based on multiple geostationary/polar-orbiting satellite sensors.
• To provide comprehensive near real-time satellite cloud data in support of Department of Defense (DoD) operations, civil aviation applications, and scientific weather/climate research.

Figure: Cloud vertical layers retrieved from GOES-16 ABI (bottom: IR image) with CloudSat radar vertical cross-section.