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ISSN 2070-7401 (Print), ISSN 2411-0280 (Online)
Sovremennye problemy distantsionnogo zondirovaniya Zemli iz kosmosa
CURRENT PROBLEMS IN REMOTE SENSING OF THE EARTH FROM SPACE

  

Sovremennye problemy distantsionnogo zondirovaniya Zemli iz kosmosa, 2025, V. 22, No. 5, pp. 99-113

Technology for automated assessment of cloud top height based on joint geostationary and highly elliptical satellite systems observations

E.E. Volkova 1 , A.A. Bril 1 , M.A. Burtsev 1 , E.A. Loupian 1 , A.I. Andreev 2 , E.I. Kholodov 2 
1 Space Research Institute RAS, Moscow, Russia
2 Far Eastern Center of SRC "Planeta", Khabarovsk, Russia
Accepted: 08.10.2025
DOI: 10.21046/2070-7401-2025-22-5-99-113
The paper presents a technology for automated assessment of the upper cloud top height based on stereoscopic observations from various spacecrafts, implemented for pairs of observations from the high-elliptical Arktika-M series satellites and the geostationary Himawari-8/-9 satellite. The technology enables automatic computation of cloud height fields with a 30-minute refresh rate for the region from 0 to 60° N and from 80° E to 160° W, which significantly expands the capabilities of operational monitoring of atmospheric processes and emergencies. The paper describes the main methods used to estimate heights and the general structure of the implemented technology, including tools to work with it. To assess the accuracy of the technology, a massive comparative analysis of the obtained results with the CLTH (Cloud Top Height) satellite product was carried out, which showed their comparable accuracy, especially at medium altitudes. For an additional assessment of accuracy, the results were compared with cloud height estimates based on data from the SLSTR (Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer) instrument of the Sentinel-3 satellites, showing good comparability across the entire altitude range, including the tropopause layer. In conclusion, the paper outlines the prospects for developing the technology to work with other geostationary satellites to increase its spatial coverage to the 0–60° latitude belt for the entire Northern Hemisphere.
Keywords: stereopair, cloud top height, Arktika-M, Himawari
Full text

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