Comparison of Spatial and Temporal Cloud Coverage Derived from CloudSat, CERES, ISCCP and Their Relationship with Precipitation Over Africa

Ntwali Didier

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajrs.20150302.11

| Peer-Reviewed

Comparison of Spatial and Temporal Cloud Coverage Derived from CloudSat, CERES, ISCCP and Their Relationship with Precipitation Over Africa

Ntwali Didier

Published in American Journal of Remote Sensing (Volume 3, Issue 2)

Received: 27 March 2015 Accepted: 6 April 2015 Published: 18 April 2015

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

The spatial and temporal cloud coverage derived by CloudSat, CERES, ISCCP satellite observations and their relationship with GPCP and TRMM precipitation in West, East and South of Africa were analyzed in this study. CloudSat, CERES and ISCCP show that the high spatial cloud coverage is more frequent in equatorial regions mainly due to more strong convection than other regions. CloudSat shows a low temporal cloud coverage than CERES and ISCCP which are close. Only ISCCP was used to investigate seasonal and temporal variability of different cloud types. The stratocumulus, altostratus, and cirrus clouds are the low, middle and high cloud types with high cloud coverage during JJA, JJA, MAM in West of Africa, during SON, JJA, MAM in East of Africa, and during SON, DJF, DJF in South of Africa respectively . The correlation between cloud coverage and precipitation dataset generally shows a low positive correlation in East of Africa probably due to GPCP and TRMM observations biases whereas a high positive correlation in West and South of Africa. Only middle clouds level in East of Africa, both low and middle in West of Africa show negative correlation with precipitation, whereas all cloud types level in South of Africa show a positive correlation with precipitation.

Published in	American Journal of Remote Sensing (Volume 3, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajrs.20150302.11
Page(s)	17-28
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

CloudSat, CERES, ISCCP, Cloud Coverage, Precipitation, Africa

References

[1]	P. Probst, R. Rizzi, E. Tosi, V. Lucarini, T. Maestri. Total cloud cover from satellite observations and climate models. Atmospheric research, vol. 107, April 2012, pages 161-170.
[2]	G.L. Stephens, D.G. Vane, R.J. Boain, G. G. Mace, K. Sassen, Z. Wang, A. J. Illingworth, E. J. O'Connor, W.B. Rossow, S. L .Durden, S. D. Miller, R. T. Austin, A. Benedetti, C. Mitrescu, and the CloudSat Science Team. The CloudSat mission and the A-Train: A new dimension of space-based observations of clouds and precipitation. Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 83, 1771–1790, 2002.
[3]	M. Aaron Chan and J. C. Comiso. Cloud features detected by MODIS but not by CloudSat and CALIOP. Geophys. Res.Lett, vol. 38, L24813.
[4]	Trepte, Q., Y. Chen, S. Sun-Mack, P. Minnis, D. F. Young, B. A. Baum, and P. W. Heck (1999), Scene identification for the CERES cloud analysis subsystem, in Proceedings of the AMS 10th Conference on Atmospheric Radiation, pp. 169 – 172, Am. Meteorol. Soc., Boston, Mass.
[5]	M. H. Zhang, W. Y. Lin, S. A. Klein, J. T. Bacmeister, S. Bony, R. T. Cederwall, A. D. Del Genio, J. J. Hack, N. G. Loeb, U. Lohmann, P. Minnis, I. Musat, R. Pincus, P. Stier, M. J. Suarez, M. J. Webb, J. B. Wu,1 S. C. Xie, M.-S. Yao, and J. H. Zhang. Comparing clouds and their seasonal variations in 10 atmospheric general circulation models with satellite measurements, J. Geophys. Res., 110, 10.1029/2004JD005021, 2005.
[6]	B. Cairns. Diurnal variations of cloud from ISCCP data. Atmospheric Research 37 (1995) 133-146.
[7]	K. Sassen and Z. Wang. Classifying clouds around the globe with the CloudSat radar: 1-year of results. Geophys. Res. Lett.,35,L04805,doi:10.1029/2007GL032591, 2008.
[8]	G. G. Mace and M. Deng, B. Soden, E Zipser. Association of Tropical Cirrus in the 10–15-km Layer with Deep Convective Sources: An Observational Study Combining Millimeter Radar Data and Satellite-Derived Trajectories.
[9]	J. R. McCollum, A. Gruber, and M. B. Ba. Discrepancy between gauges and satellite estimates of rainfall in equatorial Africa. J. Appl. Meteor., 39, 666–679, 2000.
[10]	D. L. Hartmann, M. E. Ockert-Bell, and M. L. Michelsen. The Effect of Cloud Type on Earth's Energy Balance: Global Analysis. J. Climate, 5, 1281–1304,1992.
[11]	R.A. Schiffer and W.B. Rossow. The International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP): The First Project of the World Climate Research Programme. Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc, vol. 64, No. 7, July 1983.
[12]	D. Zhanga, T. Luoa, D. Liub, Z. Wanga. Spatial scales of altocumulus clouds observed with collocated CALIPSO and CloudSat measurements. Atmospheric Research 149 (2014) 58–69.
[13]	K. Kamiguchi, A. Kitoh and M. Hosaka. Intercomparison between TRMM3B42, GPCP-1DD and Radar-AMeDAS, Meteorological Research Institute, Tsukuba, Japan.
[14]	L. Rui and F. Yunfei. Tropical precipitation estimated by GPCP and TRMM PR observations. Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, vol. 22, No. 6, 2005, 852-864.
[15]	K. Kawamoto. Relationships between cloud properties and precipitation amount over the Amazon basin. Atmospheric Research 82 (2006) 239–247.
[16]	B.A. Albrecht. Aerosols, cloud microphysics and fractional cloudiness. Science 245, 1227–1230.
[17]	D. Rosenfeld. Suppression of rain and snow by urban and industrial air pollution. Science 287, 1793–1796, 2000.
[18]	R.A. Jr. Houze. Stratiform precipitation in regions of convection: A meteorological paradox?. Cloud Dynamics. Academic Press, 573 pp. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 1993, 78, 2179-2195, 1997.
[19]	Lau, N.- C., and M.W. Crane. Comparing satellite and surface observations of cloud patterns in synoptic-scale circulation systems. Mon.Wea. Rev., 125, 3172-3189, 1997.
[20]	J. P. Duvel. Convection over Tropical Africa and the Atlantic Ocean during Northern Summer. Part I: Interannual and Diurnal Variations. Mon. Wea. Rev., 117, 2782–2799, 1989.
[21]	G.A. Isaac, and R.A. Stuart. Relationships between cloud type and amount, precipitation, and surface temperature in the Mackenzie River valley-Beaufort Sea area. J. Climate, 9, 1921-194, 1996.
[22]	S.G.Warren, R.M. Chervin, and R. L. Jenne. Global distribution of total cloud cover and cloud type amounts over land. NCAR Tech. Note TN-273 + STR, Boulder, CO, 29 pp. and 200 maps, 1986.
[23]	S.G.Warren, R.M. Chervin, and R. L. Jenne. Global distribution of total cloud cover and cloud type amounts over the ocean. NCAR Tech. Note TN-317 + STR, Boulder, CO, 42 pp. and 170 maps, 1988.
[24]	C. J. Hahn, W. B. Rossow, and S.G. Warren. ISCCP Cloud Properties Associated with Standard Cloud Types Identified in Individual Surface Observations. J. Climate, 2001, 14, 11–28.
[25]	C. J. Stubenrauch, W. B. Rossow, F. Cheruy, A. Chedin, and N. A. Scott. Clouds as seen by satellite sounders (3I) and images (ISCCP), Part I: Evaluation of cloud parameters, J. Clim., 12(8), 2189–2213, 1999.
[26]	G. L. Stephens, D. G. Vane, S. Tanelli, E. Im, S. Durden, M. Rokey, D. Reinke, P. Partain, G. G. Mace, R. Austin,T. L’Ecuyer, J. Haynes, M. Lebsock, K. Suzuki, D. Waliser, D. Wu, J. Kay, A. Gettelman, Z. Wang, and R. Marchand. CloudSat mission: Performance and early science after the first year of operation. J. Geophys. Res.,113.
[27]	C. Kummerow, J. Simpson, O. Thiele, W. Barnes, A.T. C. Chang, E. Stocker, R.F. Adler, A. Hou, R. Kakar, F. Wentz, P. Ashcroft, T. Kozu, Y. Hong, K. Okamoto, T. Iguchi, H. Kuroiwa, E. Im, Z. Haddad, G. Huffman, B. Ferrier, W.S. Olson, E. Zipser, E.A. Smith, T.T. Wilheit, G. North, T. Krishnamurti and K. Nakamura. The status of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) after two years in orbit. J. Appl. Meteor., 39, 1965–1982, 2000.
[28]	R. F. Adler, G. J. Huffman, A. Chang, R. Ferrado, P. P. Xie, J. Janowiak, B. Rudolf, U. Schneider, S. Curtis, D. Bolvin, A. Gruber, J. Susskind, P. Arkin, and E. Nelkin. The Version-2 Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) Monthly Precipitation Analysis (1979–Present). J. Hydrometeor, 4(6), 1147–1167.
[29]	J.R. Norris. Multidecadal changes in near-global cloud cover and estimated cloud cover radiative forcing. J. Geophys. Res.,vol.110,D08206,doi:10.1029/2004JD005600, 2005.
[30]	S. G. Warren, R.M. Eastman, and C. J. Hahn. A Survey of Changes in Cloud Cover and Cloud Types over Land from Surface Observations, 1971–96. J. Climate, 20, 717–738, 2007.
[31]	S.E. Nicholson, B. Some, J. McCollum, E. Nelkin, D. Klotter, Y. Berte, B.M. Diallo, I. Gaye, G. Kpabeba, O. Ndiaye, J.N. Noukpozounkou, M.M. Tanu, A. Thiam, A.A. Toure, A.K. Traore. Validation of TRMM and other rainfall estimates with a high-density gauge dataset for West Africa. Part II: Validation of TRMM rainfall products. J. Appl. Meteor., 42, 1337-1354, 2003.

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Ntwali Didier. (2015). Comparison of Spatial and Temporal Cloud Coverage Derived from CloudSat, CERES, ISCCP and Their Relationship with Precipitation Over Africa. American Journal of Remote Sensing, 3(2), 17-28. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajrs.20150302.11

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Ntwali Didier. Comparison of Spatial and Temporal Cloud Coverage Derived from CloudSat, CERES, ISCCP and Their Relationship with Precipitation Over Africa. Am. J. Remote Sens. 2015, 3(2), 17-28. doi: 10.11648/j.ajrs.20150302.11

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Ntwali Didier. Comparison of Spatial and Temporal Cloud Coverage Derived from CloudSat, CERES, ISCCP and Their Relationship with Precipitation Over Africa. Am J Remote Sens. 2015;3(2):17-28. doi: 10.11648/j.ajrs.20150302.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajrs.20150302.11,
  author = {Ntwali Didier},
  title = {Comparison of Spatial and Temporal Cloud Coverage Derived from CloudSat, CERES, ISCCP and Their Relationship with Precipitation Over Africa},
  journal = {American Journal of Remote Sensing},
  volume = {3},
  number = {2},
  pages = {17-28},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajrs.20150302.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajrs.20150302.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajrs.20150302.11},
  abstract = {The spatial and temporal cloud coverage derived by CloudSat, CERES, ISCCP satellite observations and their relationship with GPCP and TRMM precipitation in West, East and South of Africa were analyzed in this study. CloudSat, CERES and ISCCP show that the high spatial cloud coverage is more frequent in equatorial regions mainly due to more strong convection than other regions. CloudSat shows a low temporal cloud coverage than CERES and ISCCP which are close. Only ISCCP was used to investigate seasonal and temporal variability of different cloud types. The stratocumulus, altostratus, and cirrus clouds are the low, middle and high cloud types with high cloud coverage during JJA, JJA, MAM in West of Africa, during SON, JJA, MAM in East of Africa, and during SON, DJF, DJF in South of Africa respectively . The correlation between cloud coverage and precipitation dataset generally shows a low positive correlation in East of Africa probably due to GPCP and TRMM observations biases whereas a high positive correlation in West and South of Africa. Only middle clouds level in East of Africa, both low and middle in West of Africa show negative correlation with precipitation, whereas all cloud types level in South of Africa show a positive correlation with precipitation.},
 year = {2015}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Comparison of Spatial and Temporal Cloud Coverage Derived from CloudSat, CERES, ISCCP and Their Relationship with Precipitation Over Africa
AU  - Ntwali Didier
Y1  - 2015/04/18
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajrs.20150302.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajrs.20150302.11
T2  - American Journal of Remote Sensing
JF  - American Journal of Remote Sensing
JO  - American Journal of Remote Sensing
SP  - 17
EP  - 28
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-580X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajrs.20150302.11
AB  - The spatial and temporal cloud coverage derived by CloudSat, CERES, ISCCP satellite observations and their relationship with GPCP and TRMM precipitation in West, East and South of Africa were analyzed in this study. CloudSat, CERES and ISCCP show that the high spatial cloud coverage is more frequent in equatorial regions mainly due to more strong convection than other regions. CloudSat shows a low temporal cloud coverage than CERES and ISCCP which are close. Only ISCCP was used to investigate seasonal and temporal variability of different cloud types. The stratocumulus, altostratus, and cirrus clouds are the low, middle and high cloud types with high cloud coverage during JJA, JJA, MAM in West of Africa, during SON, JJA, MAM in East of Africa, and during SON, DJF, DJF in South of Africa respectively . The correlation between cloud coverage and precipitation dataset generally shows a low positive correlation in East of Africa probably due to GPCP and TRMM observations biases whereas a high positive correlation in West and South of Africa. Only middle clouds level in East of Africa, both low and middle in West of Africa show negative correlation with precipitation, whereas all cloud types level in South of Africa show a positive correlation with precipitation.
VL  - 3
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Ntwali Didier

Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Ntwali Didier. (2015). Comparison of Spatial and Temporal Cloud Coverage Derived from CloudSat, CERES, ISCCP and Their Relationship with Precipitation Over Africa. American Journal of Remote Sensing, 3(2), 17-28. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajrs.20150302.11

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Ntwali Didier. Comparison of Spatial and Temporal Cloud Coverage Derived from CloudSat, CERES, ISCCP and Their Relationship with Precipitation Over Africa. Am. J. Remote Sens. 2015, 3(2), 17-28. doi: 10.11648/j.ajrs.20150302.11

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Ntwali Didier. Comparison of Spatial and Temporal Cloud Coverage Derived from CloudSat, CERES, ISCCP and Their Relationship with Precipitation Over Africa. Am J Remote Sens. 2015;3(2):17-28. doi: 10.11648/j.ajrs.20150302.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajrs.20150302.11,
  author = {Ntwali Didier},
  title = {Comparison of Spatial and Temporal Cloud Coverage Derived from CloudSat, CERES, ISCCP and Their Relationship with Precipitation Over Africa},
  journal = {American Journal of Remote Sensing},
  volume = {3},
  number = {2},
  pages = {17-28},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajrs.20150302.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajrs.20150302.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajrs.20150302.11},
  abstract = {The spatial and temporal cloud coverage derived by CloudSat, CERES, ISCCP satellite observations and their relationship with GPCP and TRMM precipitation in West, East and South of Africa were analyzed in this study. CloudSat, CERES and ISCCP show that the high spatial cloud coverage is more frequent in equatorial regions mainly due to more strong convection than other regions. CloudSat shows a low temporal cloud coverage than CERES and ISCCP which are close. Only ISCCP was used to investigate seasonal and temporal variability of different cloud types. The stratocumulus, altostratus, and cirrus clouds are the low, middle and high cloud types with high cloud coverage during JJA, JJA, MAM in West of Africa, during SON, JJA, MAM in East of Africa, and during SON, DJF, DJF in South of Africa respectively . The correlation between cloud coverage and precipitation dataset generally shows a low positive correlation in East of Africa probably due to GPCP and TRMM observations biases whereas a high positive correlation in West and South of Africa. Only middle clouds level in East of Africa, both low and middle in West of Africa show negative correlation with precipitation, whereas all cloud types level in South of Africa show a positive correlation with precipitation.},
 year = {2015}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Comparison of Spatial and Temporal Cloud Coverage Derived from CloudSat, CERES, ISCCP and Their Relationship with Precipitation Over Africa
AU  - Ntwali Didier
Y1  - 2015/04/18
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajrs.20150302.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajrs.20150302.11
T2  - American Journal of Remote Sensing
JF  - American Journal of Remote Sensing
JO  - American Journal of Remote Sensing
SP  - 17
EP  - 28
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-580X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajrs.20150302.11
AB  - The spatial and temporal cloud coverage derived by CloudSat, CERES, ISCCP satellite observations and their relationship with GPCP and TRMM precipitation in West, East and South of Africa were analyzed in this study. CloudSat, CERES and ISCCP show that the high spatial cloud coverage is more frequent in equatorial regions mainly due to more strong convection than other regions. CloudSat shows a low temporal cloud coverage than CERES and ISCCP which are close. Only ISCCP was used to investigate seasonal and temporal variability of different cloud types. The stratocumulus, altostratus, and cirrus clouds are the low, middle and high cloud types with high cloud coverage during JJA, JJA, MAM in West of Africa, during SON, JJA, MAM in East of Africa, and during SON, DJF, DJF in South of Africa respectively . The correlation between cloud coverage and precipitation dataset generally shows a low positive correlation in East of Africa probably due to GPCP and TRMM observations biases whereas a high positive correlation in West and South of Africa. Only middle clouds level in East of Africa, both low and middle in West of Africa show negative correlation with precipitation, whereas all cloud types level in South of Africa show a positive correlation with precipitation.
VL  - 3
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download