Global Ice Cloud Optical Thickness Maps from ADEOS-II Satellite

Satellite-derived maps detail the optical thickness of ice clouds globally at a 1/4-degree spatial resolution. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) produced this data from the GLI sensor onboard the ADEOS-II (Midori II) satellite, with a statistical period of 16 days. The dataset was last updated in October 2003.

Use Cases

• Validate climate model outputs of cloud radiative forcing by comparing modeled cloud optical thickness against these satellite-derived maps.
• Study seasonal and regional variability in ice cloud properties using the 16-day and 1-month statistical composites.
• Analyze the relationship between cloud optical thickness and other atmospheric variables by merging this geospatial data with reanalysis datasets.
• Assess algorithm performance for cloud property retrieval by comparing the reflection method used here with other satellite products.

Strengths

• Global spatial coverage at a 1/4-degree (~25 km) resolution.
• Data processed using a specific reflection method from GLI sensor channels 13/19 (678/865 nm), 30 (3.715 μm), and 35 (10.8 μm).
• Provides both 16-day and 1-month statistical composites for temporal analysis.

Limitations

• Data is from 2003, limiting analysis of recent climate trends.
• Specific row count, sample size, and potential measurement uncertainties are not detailed in the provided information.
• Product is limited to ice clouds and uses a specific retrieval method that may have known biases.

Provenance

Source

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Collection Method

Derived from Level 3 binned products of the GLI (Global Imager) sensor onboard the ADEOS-II satellite, using a reflection method on specific spectral channels.

Time Range

Statistical periods are 16 days and 1 month; specific observation date range is null.

Freshness

Static dataset last updated on 2003-10-25.

Geography

Global coverage.