Segmentation of clouds using cluster analysis

Abstract The techniques of pattern recognition can provide unique information on cloud structures for cloud climatology programmes. We present a flexible automatic method for segmentation of meteorological satellite data using a multidimensional clustering procedure. The algorithm developed is described, together with its application to cloud data from the METEOSAT-1 satellite. If the data are transformed prior to segmentation by use of the Principal Components Transformation, the results compare favourably with those of alternative methods.

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