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Passive and active detection of clouds: Comparisons between MODIS and GLAS observations
Author(s) -
Mahesh Ashwin,
Gray Mark A.,
Palm Stephen P.,
Hart William D.,
Spinhirne James D.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2003gl018859
Subject(s) - remote sensing , snow , satellite , altimeter , environmental science , moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer , spectroradiometer , meteorology , atmosphere (unit) , geology , reflectivity , optics , geography , astronomy , physics
The Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS), launched on board the Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite in January 2003 provides space‐borne laser observations of atmospheric layers. GLAS provides opportunities to validate passive observations of the atmosphere for the first time from space with an active optical instrument. Data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometers aboard the Terr and Aqua satellites are examined along with GLAS observations of cloud layers. In more than three‐quarters of the cases, MODIS scene identification from spectral radiances agrees with GLAS. Disagreement between the two platforms is most significant over snow‐covered surfaces in the northern hemisphere. Daytime clouds detected by GLAS are also more easily seen in the MODIS data as well, compared to observations made at night. These comparisons illustrate the capabilities of active remote sensing to validate and assess passive measurements, and also to complement them in studies of atmospheric layers.

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