Premium
Cluster analysis of tropical clouds using CloudSat data
Author(s) -
Zhang Yuying,
Klein Steve,
Mace Gerald G.,
Boyle Jim
Publication year - 2007
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 - 10.1029/2007gl029336
Subject(s) - cloud computing , precipitation , environmental science , cluster (spacecraft) , climatology , satellite , mesoscale meteorology , radar , meteorology , remote sensing , geology , geography , computer science , programming language , telecommunications , aerospace engineering , engineering , operating system
The mesoscale patterns of cloud/precipitation radar reflectivity from early CloudSat data are used to identify distinct tropical cloud regimes via a cluster analysis. Five basic cloud regimes are identified, and the geographical distribution of their occurrence frequency is quantified. Although the contemporary MODIS observations show some limitations to CloudSat observations, comparison with traditional passive satellite observations shows that CloudSat describes the major features of the vertical structure of the tropical cloud regimes. Using the monthly mean vertical velocity at 500 hPa as an indicator, the elements of each cloud regime are sorted into different dynamical regimes, and the results demonstrate the links between clouds and the atmospheric circulation.