Global Cloud Top Height from ADEOS-II Satellite

ADEOS-II/GLI L2 Cloud Top Height of water cloud by reflection method provides global measurements of water cloud top altitude. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) produced this data from the GLI sensor onboard the ADEOS-II satellite, with a spatial resolution of 0.25 degrees and a 4-day statistical period. The dataset was last updated in October 2003 and is based on satellite-received radiances in GLI channels 13, 30, and 35.

Use Cases

• Validate and improve climate model cloud parameterizations using the global cloud top height field.
• Study cloud-climate feedbacks by analyzing the spatial distribution of cloud height data.
• Assess cloud microphysical properties by analyzing the reflected solar radiation derived from GLI channels 13 and 30.
• Combine this product with other atmospheric datasets to analyze the role of water clouds in the Earth's radiation balance.

Strengths

• Global spatial coverage with a 0.25-degree resolution.
• Algorithm applicable to a broad range of water clouds, from semi-transparent to thick.
• Data product is versioned, with the current version being 'Version 2'.

Limitations

• Data is temporally stale, with the last update in 2003.
• Product is specific to water clouds and may not include ice or mixed-phase clouds from this method.
• The 4-day statistical period limits analysis of sub-daily cloud variability.

Provenance

Source

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Collection Method

Derived from radiance measurements of the GLI (Global Imager) sensor onboard the ADEOS-II satellite using a reflection method on specific channels.

Time Range

null

Freshness

Data last updated on 2003-10-25; no update frequency specified.

Geography

Global coverage with EQR (Equirectangular) map projection.