A thorough literature review of cloud algorithm validation strategies is presented, with particular emphasis on the problems of detecting cirrus clouds. To further advance our cirrus detection capabilities, a new cloud detection technique is proposed for the Multi-angle Imaging Spectro-Radiometer (MISR), which is scheduled to be on the first platform of the Earth Observing System. Radiative Transfer simulations have been used to develop a Band-Differenced Angular Signature technique. This new technique takes the difference between two solar spectral reflectances as a function of view angle. The resulting angular signature is used to discriminate between high- and low-level clouds and surface reflectance anomalies. This technique, coupled with a Predetermined Clear Sky Threshold developed in this study for MISR, can detect cirrus clouds of visible optical thickness $>$0.5 without any a priori knowledge of atmospheric conditions. Other techniques that can be used with MISR (i.e. stereo) are also discussed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.60659 |
| Date | January 1992 |
| Creators | Di Girolamo, Larry |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Science (Department of Meteorology.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001288671, proquestno: AAIMM74495, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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