Support of Environmental Requirements for Cloud Analysis and Archive (SERCAA): Final Report.
Abstract
Support of Environmental Requirements for Cloud Analysis and Archives (SERCAA) was a four-year, two-phase research and development program. Program goals were to produce a global multispectral, multisensor cloud analysis capability for retrieval of spatial, radiative, microphysical, and environmental cloud properties through analysis of sensor data from multiple operational environmental satellites. Program accomplishments during Phase 1 included development of three customized cloud-detection algorithms for analysis of NOAA/AVHRR, DMSP/OLS, and geostationary sensor data; a new algorithm for discrimination of vertical cloud layers within a 25 km grid cell; and an innovative analysis-integration algorithm for optimally combining the results of the source-specific cloud analysis modules. During Phase 2, retrieval capabilities were expanded to include cloud particle size, emissivity/transmissivity, optical depth, and altitude. Additional work toward characterization of cloud-free bidirectional reflectance provides a basis for enhanced analysis of visible-channel data in the cloud detection process. SERCAA algorithms have been selected for operational implementation at the Air Force Global Weather Central.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 14, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA322037
Entities
People
- Gary B. Gustafson
- Robert P. D'entremont
- Ronald G. Isaacs
Organizations
- Atmospheric and Environmental Research, Inc