Intercomparison of satellite-derived cloud analyses for the Arctic Ocean in spring and summer

Several methods of deriving Arctic cloud information, primarily from satellite imagery, have been intercompared. The comparisons help in establishing what cloud information is most readily determined in polar regions from satellite data analysis. The analyses for spring-summer conditions show broad agreement, but subjective errors affecting some geographical areas and cloud types are apparent. The results suggest that visible and thermal infrared data may be insufficient for adequate cloud mapping over some Arctic surfaces.

[1]  R. Crane,et al.  Empirical and modeled synoptic cloud climatology of the Arctic Ocean , 1986 .

[2]  P. Astapenko Atmospheric Processes in the High Latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere , 1960 .

[3]  A. Henderson‐sellers,et al.  Global 3D-Nephanalysis of Total Cloud Amount: Climatology for 1979 , 1985 .

[4]  F. Fye,et al.  The AFGWC Automated Cloud Analysis Model , 1978 .

[5]  R. Colony,et al.  Arctic Ocean Buoy Program. , 1980 .

[6]  W. F. Mcdonald Atlas of climatic charts of the oceans , 1938 .

[7]  R. Crane,et al.  The sensitivity of a one‐dimensional thermodynamic sea ice model to changes in cloudiness , 1984 .

[8]  W. Rossow,et al.  The International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP): The First Project of the World Climate Research Programme , 1983 .

[9]  E. Vowinckel CLOUD AMOUNT AND TYPE OVER THE ARCTIC , 1962 .

[10]  Roger G. Barry,et al.  Snow melt and surface albedo in the Arctic Basin , 1986 .

[11]  N. A. Hughes Global Cloud Climatologies: A Historical Review , 1984 .

[12]  Roger G. Barry,et al.  The influence of clouds on climate with A focus on high latitude interactions , 1984 .

[13]  R. Crane,et al.  Arctic cloudiness in spring from satellite imagery , 1987 .

[14]  Horst Malberg,et al.  Comparison of Mean Cloud Cover Obtained By Satellite Photographs and Ground-Based Observations Over Europe and the Atlantic , 1973 .

[15]  Ann Henderson-Sellers,et al.  Cloud cover archiving on a global scale - A discussion of principles , 1981 .