Cloud top heights from temperature sounding instruments

A method for deriving cloud top heights using satellite remote temperature sounding instruments is described. The weighting functions of a 15μm CO2 tropospheric temperature sounder are modified by the presence of cloud in the sounding column. The relative effect of cloud on two or more such weighting functions in successive soundings along an orbital or scanning track is shown to be a simple function of cloud height. The method permits cloud heights to be found without the need to derive cloud amount. Results from the Nimbus 5 Selective Chopper Radiometer are presented.