Understanding the role of clouds in climate is one of the highest priority science objectives in the global climate change program. In particular, there has been a renewed interest in understanding cloud radiative interactions in the tropical regions. Although a number of studies have emphasized the importance of cloud optical properties on the earth's radiative energy balance, information concerning cloud optical depth and particle size is lacking. In this study, we use collocated AVHRR and ERBE measurements from the same satellite in order to understand the effect of cloud optical properties on the radiative balance of the earth- atmosphere system.

Date Published: 23 December 1994
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 2309, Passive Infrared Remote Sensing of Clouds and the Atmosphere II, (23 December 1994); doi: 10.1117/12.196679

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 2309:
Passive Infrared Remote Sensing of Clouds and the Atmosphere II
David K. Lynch, Editor(s)