Automatic cloud top height determination in mountainous areas using a cost-effective time-lapse camera system
A new method is presented for the determination of cloud top heights using the footage of a time-lapse camera that is placed above a frequently occurring cloud layer in a mountain valley. Contact points between cloud tops and underlying terrain are automatically detected in the camera image based on...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2014-12-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
| Online Access: | http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/7/4185/2014/amt-7-4185-2014.pdf |
| Summary: | A new method is presented for the determination of cloud top heights using the footage of
a time-lapse camera that is placed above a frequently occurring cloud layer
in a mountain valley. Contact points between cloud tops and
underlying terrain are automatically detected in the camera image based on
differences in the brightness, texture and movement of cloudy and non-cloudy
areas. The height of the detected cloud top positions is determined by
comparison with a digital elevation model projected to the view of the
camera. The technique has been validated using data about the cloud immersion
of a second camera as well as via visual assessment. The validation shows a
high detection quality, especially regarding the requirements for the
validation of satellite cloud top retrieval algorithms. |
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| ISSN: | 1867-1381 1867-8548 |