Sovremennye problemy distantsionnogo zondirovaniya Zemli iz kosmosa, 2009, Issue 6, Vol. 2, pp. 235-243
Comparison of global cloud climatologies
А.В. Чернокульский
, И.И. Мохов
Институт физики атмосферы им. А.М. Обухова РАН, 119017, Москва, Пыжевский пер., 3
Different data for cloud climatologies based on satellite and surface observations and also on
reanalysis dara are analyzed. Global cloudiness is about 2/3 from ISCCP (The Internatinal Satellite
Cloud Climatology Project), MODIS (The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer), Patmos-X
(AVHRR Pathfinder Atmosphere - Extended) satellite data and from surface observations EECRA
(Extended Edited Synoptic Cloud Reports Archive). According to the UW HIRS (University of
Wisconsin High-resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder) satellite data global cloudiness is about 3/4.
Large distinctions between different data are noted in high latitudes, especially in winter. Global
cloudiness from ECMWF reanalysis (ERA-40) data is close to 2/3 (as well as cloudiness from
observations data) while according to both versions of NCEP (National Centers for Environmental
Prediction) reanalysis data it is about 1/2.
Keywords: cloud climatology, satellite data, surface observations, reanalysis data
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