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MODIS Retrievals of Cloud Effective Radius in Marine Stratocumulus Exhibit No Significant Bias
Author(s) -
Witte Mikael K.,
Yuan Tianle,
Chuang Patrick Y.,
Platnick Steven,
Meyer Kerry G.,
Wind Gala,
Jonsson Haflidi H.
Publication year - 2018
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 - 10.1029/2018gl079325
Subject(s) - effective radius , environmental science , context (archaeology) , moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer , marine stratocumulus , remote sensing , drizzle , satellite , atmospheric sciences , in situ , meteorology , aerosol , physics , geology , astrophysics , precipitation , astronomy , galaxy , paleontology
Satellite retrievals of cloud effective radius r e are frequently validated using aircraft in situ measurements. Past intercomparisons have found a significant bias toward larger remotely sensed r e . Explanations for this bias have focused on retrieval algorithms and large‐scale heterogeneity, with in situ measurement uncertainty regarded as a minor factor. We compare Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer r e with in situ observations of marine stratocumulus clouds from three aircraft campaigns using a phase Doppler interferometer probe. Retrieved and in situ r e typically agree within uncertainty in both nonprecipitating and drizzling conditions with no apparent systematic bias (mean bias of −0.22 μm, mean relative bias 3%). Agreement depends on the choice of in situ probe as well as microphysical context. We demonstrate that probes must adequately characterize the width of the drop size distribution to avoid systematic underestimation of r e .