A Cloud Detection Algorithm Based on FY-4A/GIIRS Infrared Hyperspectral Observations
Cloud detection is an essential preprocessing step when using satellite-borne infrared hyperspectral sounders for data assimilation and atmospheric retrieval. In this study, we propose a cloud detection algorithm based solely on the sensitivity and detection characteristics of the FY-4A Geostationar...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-01-01
|
| Series: | Remote Sensing |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/3/481 |
| _version_ | 1827354615467737088 |
|---|---|
| author | Jieying Ma Yi Liao Li Guan |
| author_facet | Jieying Ma Yi Liao Li Guan |
| author_sort | Jieying Ma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cloud detection is an essential preprocessing step when using satellite-borne infrared hyperspectral sounders for data assimilation and atmospheric retrieval. In this study, we propose a cloud detection algorithm based solely on the sensitivity and detection characteristics of the FY-4A Geostationary Interferometric Infrared Sounder (GIIRS), rather than relying on other instruments. The algorithm consists of four steps: (1) combining observed radiation and clear radiance data simulated by the Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM) to identify clear fields of view (FOVs); (2) determining the number of clouds within adjacent 2 × 2 FOVs via a principal component analysis of observed radiation; (3) identifying whether there are large observed radiance differences between adjacent 2 × 2 FOVs to determine the mixture of clear skies and clouds; and (4) assigning adjacent 2 × 2 FOVs as a cloud cluster following the three steps above to select an appropriate classification threshold. The classification results within each cloud detection cluster were divided into the following categories: clear, partly cloudy, or overcast. The proposed cloud detection algorithm was tested using one month of GIIRS observations from May 2022 in this study. The cloud detection and classification results were compared with the FY-4A Advanced Geostationary Radiation Imager (AGRI)’s operational cloud mask products to evaluate their performance. The results showed that the algorithm’s performance is significantly influenced by the surface type. Among all-day observations, the highest recognition performance was achieved over the ocean, followed by land surfaces, with the lowest performance observed over deep inland water. The proposed algorithm demonstrated better clear sky recognition during the nighttime for ocean and land surfaces, while its performance was higher for partly cloudy and overcast conditions during the day. However, for inland water surfaces, the algorithm consistently exhibited a lower cloud recognition performance during both the day and night. Moreover, in contrast to the GIIRS’s Level 2 cloud mask (CLM) product, the proposed algorithm was able to identify partly cloudy conditions. The algorithm’s classification results departed slightly from those of the AGRI’s cloud mask product in areas with clear sky/cloud boundaries and minimal convective cloud coverage; this was attributed to the misclassification of clear sky as partly cloudy under a low-resolution situation. AGRI’s CLM products, temporally and spatially collocated to the GIIRS FOV, served as the reference value. The proportion of FOVs consistently classified as partly cloudy to the total number of partly cloudy FOVs was 40.6%. In comparison with the GIIRS’s L2 product, the proposed algorithm improved the identification performance by around 10%. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:50:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ec563a630ebe4051848d37576d44ca3e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:50:17Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj.art-ec563a630ebe4051848d37576d44ca3e2024-02-09T15:21:14ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922024-01-0116348110.3390/rs16030481A Cloud Detection Algorithm Based on FY-4A/GIIRS Infrared Hyperspectral ObservationsJieying Ma0Yi Liao1Li Guan2China Meteorological Administration Aerosol-Cloud and Precipitation Key Laboratory, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaChongqing Sub-Bureau of Southwest Air Traffic Management Bureau of Civil Aviation of China, Chongqing 401120, ChinaChina Meteorological Administration Aerosol-Cloud and Precipitation Key Laboratory, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaCloud detection is an essential preprocessing step when using satellite-borne infrared hyperspectral sounders for data assimilation and atmospheric retrieval. In this study, we propose a cloud detection algorithm based solely on the sensitivity and detection characteristics of the FY-4A Geostationary Interferometric Infrared Sounder (GIIRS), rather than relying on other instruments. The algorithm consists of four steps: (1) combining observed radiation and clear radiance data simulated by the Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM) to identify clear fields of view (FOVs); (2) determining the number of clouds within adjacent 2 × 2 FOVs via a principal component analysis of observed radiation; (3) identifying whether there are large observed radiance differences between adjacent 2 × 2 FOVs to determine the mixture of clear skies and clouds; and (4) assigning adjacent 2 × 2 FOVs as a cloud cluster following the three steps above to select an appropriate classification threshold. The classification results within each cloud detection cluster were divided into the following categories: clear, partly cloudy, or overcast. The proposed cloud detection algorithm was tested using one month of GIIRS observations from May 2022 in this study. The cloud detection and classification results were compared with the FY-4A Advanced Geostationary Radiation Imager (AGRI)’s operational cloud mask products to evaluate their performance. The results showed that the algorithm’s performance is significantly influenced by the surface type. Among all-day observations, the highest recognition performance was achieved over the ocean, followed by land surfaces, with the lowest performance observed over deep inland water. The proposed algorithm demonstrated better clear sky recognition during the nighttime for ocean and land surfaces, while its performance was higher for partly cloudy and overcast conditions during the day. However, for inland water surfaces, the algorithm consistently exhibited a lower cloud recognition performance during both the day and night. Moreover, in contrast to the GIIRS’s Level 2 cloud mask (CLM) product, the proposed algorithm was able to identify partly cloudy conditions. The algorithm’s classification results departed slightly from those of the AGRI’s cloud mask product in areas with clear sky/cloud boundaries and minimal convective cloud coverage; this was attributed to the misclassification of clear sky as partly cloudy under a low-resolution situation. AGRI’s CLM products, temporally and spatially collocated to the GIIRS FOV, served as the reference value. The proportion of FOVs consistently classified as partly cloudy to the total number of partly cloudy FOVs was 40.6%. In comparison with the GIIRS’s L2 product, the proposed algorithm improved the identification performance by around 10%.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/3/481FY-4A/GIIRScloud detectioncloud mask algorithmproduct comparison |
| spellingShingle | Jieying Ma Yi Liao Li Guan A Cloud Detection Algorithm Based on FY-4A/GIIRS Infrared Hyperspectral Observations Remote Sensing FY-4A/GIIRS cloud detection cloud mask algorithm product comparison |
| title | A Cloud Detection Algorithm Based on FY-4A/GIIRS Infrared Hyperspectral Observations |
| title_full | A Cloud Detection Algorithm Based on FY-4A/GIIRS Infrared Hyperspectral Observations |
| title_fullStr | A Cloud Detection Algorithm Based on FY-4A/GIIRS Infrared Hyperspectral Observations |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Cloud Detection Algorithm Based on FY-4A/GIIRS Infrared Hyperspectral Observations |
| title_short | A Cloud Detection Algorithm Based on FY-4A/GIIRS Infrared Hyperspectral Observations |
| title_sort | cloud detection algorithm based on fy 4a giirs infrared hyperspectral observations |
| topic | FY-4A/GIIRS cloud detection cloud mask algorithm product comparison |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/3/481 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jieyingma aclouddetectionalgorithmbasedonfy4agiirsinfraredhyperspectralobservations AT yiliao aclouddetectionalgorithmbasedonfy4agiirsinfraredhyperspectralobservations AT liguan aclouddetectionalgorithmbasedonfy4agiirsinfraredhyperspectralobservations AT jieyingma clouddetectionalgorithmbasedonfy4agiirsinfraredhyperspectralobservations AT yiliao clouddetectionalgorithmbasedonfy4agiirsinfraredhyperspectralobservations AT liguan clouddetectionalgorithmbasedonfy4agiirsinfraredhyperspectralobservations |