Global Distribution of Clouds over Six Years: A Review Using Multiple Sensors and Reanalysis Data
A six-year global study of cloud distribution and cloud properties obtained from observations of the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO), the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), and the Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, Version...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/13/9/1514 |
| _version_ | 1797491257390399488 |
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| author | Lerato Shikwambana |
| author_facet | Lerato Shikwambana |
| author_sort | Lerato Shikwambana |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A six-year global study of cloud distribution and cloud properties obtained from observations of the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO), the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), and the Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA-2) data is presented in this study. From the CALIPSO observations, the highest clouds for both daytime and night-time were found in the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) region. The lowest cloud heights were found towards the poles due to the decrease in the tropopause height. Seasonal studies also revealed a high dominance of clouds in the 70 °S–80 °S (Antarctic) region in the June–July–August (JJA) season and a high dominance of Arctic clouds in the December–January–February (DJF) and September–October–November (SON) seasons. The coldest cloud top temperatures (CTT) were mostly observed over land in the ITCZ and the polar regions, while the warmest CTTs were mostly observed in the mid-latitudes and over the oceans. Regions with CTTs greater than 0 °C experienced less precipitation than regions with CTTs less than 0 °C. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:44:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-26cc2b2cef924097bf41357cffb0c858 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:44:52Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-26cc2b2cef924097bf41357cffb0c8582023-11-23T15:00:52ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332022-09-01139151410.3390/atmos13091514Global Distribution of Clouds over Six Years: A Review Using Multiple Sensors and Reanalysis DataLerato Shikwambana0Earth Observation Directorate, South African National Space Agency, Pretoria 0001, South AfricaA six-year global study of cloud distribution and cloud properties obtained from observations of the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO), the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), and the Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA-2) data is presented in this study. From the CALIPSO observations, the highest clouds for both daytime and night-time were found in the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) region. The lowest cloud heights were found towards the poles due to the decrease in the tropopause height. Seasonal studies also revealed a high dominance of clouds in the 70 °S–80 °S (Antarctic) region in the June–July–August (JJA) season and a high dominance of Arctic clouds in the December–January–February (DJF) and September–October–November (SON) seasons. The coldest cloud top temperatures (CTT) were mostly observed over land in the ITCZ and the polar regions, while the warmest CTTs were mostly observed in the mid-latitudes and over the oceans. Regions with CTTs greater than 0 °C experienced less precipitation than regions with CTTs less than 0 °C.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/13/9/1514cloudsCALIPSOprecipitationMERRA-2ITCZ |
| spellingShingle | Lerato Shikwambana Global Distribution of Clouds over Six Years: A Review Using Multiple Sensors and Reanalysis Data Atmosphere clouds CALIPSO precipitation MERRA-2 ITCZ |
| title | Global Distribution of Clouds over Six Years: A Review Using Multiple Sensors and Reanalysis Data |
| title_full | Global Distribution of Clouds over Six Years: A Review Using Multiple Sensors and Reanalysis Data |
| title_fullStr | Global Distribution of Clouds over Six Years: A Review Using Multiple Sensors and Reanalysis Data |
| title_full_unstemmed | Global Distribution of Clouds over Six Years: A Review Using Multiple Sensors and Reanalysis Data |
| title_short | Global Distribution of Clouds over Six Years: A Review Using Multiple Sensors and Reanalysis Data |
| title_sort | global distribution of clouds over six years a review using multiple sensors and reanalysis data |
| topic | clouds CALIPSO precipitation MERRA-2 ITCZ |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/13/9/1514 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT leratoshikwambana globaldistributionofcloudsoversixyearsareviewusingmultiplesensorsandreanalysisdata |