Cloud base height and weather characterization, visualization and prediction based on satellite meteorological observation

摘要

A method exploits the spectral signature of cloud bases in microwave moisture sounder data to determine cloud base heights. This signature requires the accurate specification of cloud top height, which in a preferred embodiment, comes from the analysis of data provided by an electro-optical sensor (EO) such as the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) instrument flown on operational NOAA satellites. The method includes a receiving step in which satellite EO (visible through infrared) and microwave radiance data of a view of the earth's atmosphere is received. The view has both location and time information. In a determining step, cloud top height is determined based on the EO and infrared radiance data. Moisture profiles of the view are retrieved in a retrieving step based on the microwave radiance data. Subsequently, in a determining step, cloud base heights of clouds in the view are determined using cloud top heights as a constraint in the retrieval of moisture profiles with tile microwave data. With the cloud base height information, three dimensional models of the clouds may be constructed based on the cloud top heights, cloud base heights and moisture data which may be used for weather visualization and prediction.