Detection of cloud-top height from backscattered radiances within the oxygen A band. Part 1: theoretical study

Abstract

A series of radiative transfer calculations were performed to study the possibility of determining cloud-top pressure (height) from backscattered solar radiances within the oxygen A-band adsorption. Also looks into the impact of perturbing effects, such as varying cloud properties, sun elevation, and surface albedo. The most important quantities are total cloud optical thickness δC and the vertical profile of liquid-water content. Multilayer clouds or varying liquid-water content profiles can only be matched with an inverse technique using radiances at up to 16 wavelengths, which, however, give cloud-top height estimates to within an error of only 50 m for all 900 cloud cases considered. -from Authors