Global Ice Cloud Top Temperature Maps from ADEOS-II Satellite

Version 2 data provides global maps of ice cloud top temperature in Kelvin, derived from the GLI sensor onboard the JAXA ADEOS-II satellite. The product offers a spatial resolution of 0.25 degrees and is aggregated over 16-day and 1-month statistical periods. This dataset was produced by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and last updated in October 2003.

Use Cases

• Analyze the spatial distribution of ice cloud top temperature using the gridded 0.25-degree maps.
• Study seasonal or interannual variability in cloud properties by comparing 16-day and 1-month statistical aggregates.
• Validate or calibrate climate model outputs for cloud top temperature against satellite-derived observations.
• Investigate correlations between ice cloud temperature and other atmospheric variables in the water energy cycle.

Strengths

• Global spatial coverage for a complete planetary view.
• Data is derived from a multi-channel system (channels 30, 35, 36) using a specific emission method for retrieval.
• Offers data at two temporal aggregation levels: 16-day and 1-month statistics.

Limitations

• Temporal coverage is limited, with the last update in 2003, making it unsuitable for studying recent climate trends.
• Specific sample size, row count, and data volume metrics are unavailable for assessing granularity.
• The product is a representative value estimated from binned products, which may smooth out finer-scale variability.

Provenance

Source

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Collection Method

Retrieved from multi-channel radiance (channels 30, 35, 36) of the GLI sensor on the ADEOS-II satellite using an emission method, then projected onto a map from Level 3 binned products.

Time Range

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Freshness

Last updated on 2003-10-25; no stated update frequency.

Geography

Global coverage.