Measurements
MODIS, Aqua (CLDPROP Continuity Algorithm)
Local Observation Time and Length of Data Record
1:30 AM and 1:30 PM ; 2002–2020
Spatial Resolution
L2 Input: 1 km native L2 (sampled at 5km for L3); L3 Output: 1×1 degree
Cloud Detection
multi-spectral IR/NIR/VIS (16 channels)+ time-space variances
Retrieval Methodology
CP, CEM → CT, cloud phase (water/ice), COD, CRE, CWP
MODIS Science Team uses spectral testing to determine cloud amount, “CO2 slicing” to determine cloud pressure and emissivity and a Look-Up Table approach using solar reflectance channels to retrieve cloud optical depth and effective particle radius.
Ancillary Input
NCEP GDAS profiles
16 day spectral surface albedo climatology
radiative transfer+particle model
mixed particle habits for ice
MODIS-CLDPRP
This dataset is created using the continuity cloud products. Only cloudy pixels are considered cloudy.
ALL_MODIS-CLDPRP
This dataset is created using the continuity cloud products (see link in the note below). Both cloudy and partially cloudy pixels (indicated as PCL in MODIS) are considered cloudy pixels in this dataset.
References
Cloud Top Properties
Heidinger, Andrew K.; Bearson, Nicholas; Foster, Michael J.; Li, Yue; Wanzong, Steve; Ackerman, Steven; Holz, Robert E.; Platnick, Steven and Meyer, Kerry. Using sounder data to improve cirrus cloud height estimation from satellite imagers. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, Volume: 36, 2019, pp.1331-1342. Reprint # 8399.
Hamann, U., A. Walther, B. Baum, R. Bennartz, L. Bugliaro, M. Derrien, P. N. Francis, A. Heidinger, S. Joro, A. Kniffka, H. Le Gléau, M. Lockhoff, H.-J. Lutz, J. F. Meirink, P. Minnis, R. Palikonda, R. Roebeling, A. Thoss, S. Platnick, P. Watts, and G. Wind, 2014: Remote sensing of the cloud top pressure/height from SEVIRI: Analysis of ten current retrieval algorithms, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 7, 2839–2867,doi:10.5194/amt-7-2839-2014.
Baum, B., W. P. Menzel, R. Frey, D. Tobin, R. Holz, S. Ackerman, 2012: MODIS Cloud Top Property Refinements for Collection 6. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 51, 1145-1163, doi: 10.1175/JAMC-D-11-0203.1.
Ackerman, S. A., K. I. Strabala, W. P. Menzel, R. A. Frey, C. C. Moeller, and L. E. Gumley, 1998: Discriminating Clear-sky from Clouds with MODIS. J. Geophys. Res., 103, D24, 32,141.
Frey, R. A., S. A. Ackerman, Y. Liu, K. I. Strabala, H. Zhang, J. Key and X. Wang, 2008: Cloud Detection with MODIS, Part I: Recent Improvements in the MODIS Cloud Mask, J. Atmos. Oceanic Tech., 25, 1057-1072.
Menzel, W. P., R. A. Frey, H. Zhang, D. P. Wylie, C. C. Moeller, R. E. Holz, B. Maddux, B. A. Baum, K. I. Strabala, and L. E. Gumley, 2008: MODIS Global Cloud-Top Pressure and Amount Estimation: Algorithm Description and Results. J. Appl. Meteor. Climatol., 47, 1175-1198.
Cloud Optical Properties
Platnick, S.; Meyer, K.; Wind, G.; Holz, R.E.; Amarasinghe, N.; Hubanks, P.A.; Marchant, B.; Dutcher, S.; Veglio, P. The NASA MODIS-VIIRS Continuity Cloud Optical Properties Products. Remote Sens. 2021, 13, 2.
Wind, G., Platnick, S., Meyer, K., Arnold, T., Amarasinghe, N., Marchant, B., Wang, C. The CHIMAERA system for retrievals of cloud top, optical and microphysical properties from imaging sensors. Comput. Geosci. 2021, 149, 104710.
Meyer, K.; Platnick, S.; Holz, R.; Dutcher, S.; Quinn, G.; Nagle, F. Derivation of Shortwave Radiometric Adjustments for SNPP and NOAA-20 VIIRS for the NASA MODIS-VIIRS Continuity Cloud Products. Remote Sens. 2020, 12, 4096.
Platnick S.; Meyer, K.; Amarasinghe, N.; Wind, G.; Hubanks, P.A.; Holz, R.E. Sensitivity of Multispectral Imager Liquid Water Cloud Microphysical Retrievals to the Index of Refraction. Remote Sens. 2020, 12, 4165.
Marchant, B., S. Platnick, K. Meyer, G. Wind: Evaluation of the Aqua MODIS Collection 6.1 multilayer cloud detection algorithm through comparisons with CloudSat CPR and CALIPSO CALIOP products, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 13, 3263–3275, 2020.
Witte, M. K., T. Yuan, P. Y. Chuang, S. E. Platnick, K. G. Meyer, G. Wind, and H. H. Jonsson, 2018: MODIS retrievals of cloud effective radius in marine stratocumulus exhibit no significant bias, Geophys. Res. Lett., doi:10.1029/2018GL079325.
Zhang, Z., X. Dong, B. Xi, H. Song, P.-L. Ma, S. J. Ghan, S. Platnick, and P. Minnis (2017), Intercomparisons of marine boundary layer cloud properties from the ARM CAP-MBL campaign and two MODIS cloud products, J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 122, 2351–2365, doi:10.1002/2016JD025763.
Rausch, J., K. Meyer, R. Bennartz, and S. Platnick: Differences in cloud microphysical properties between MODIS Collections 5.1 and 6, AMTD, doi:10.5194/amt-10-2105-2017, 2017.
Platnick, S., K. Meyer, M. D. King, G. Wind, N. Amarasinghe, B. Marchant, G. T. Arnold, Z. Zhang, P. A. Hubanks, R. E. Holz, P. Yang, W. L. Ridgway, and J. Riedi, 2017: The MODIS cloud optical and microphysical products: Collection 6 updates and examples from Terra and Aqua. IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens., 55, 502-525, doi:10.1109/TGRS.2016.2610522.
Holz, R. E., S. Platnick, K. Meyer, M. Vaughan, A. Heidinger, P. Yang, G. Wind, S. Dutcher, S. Ackerman, N. Amarasinghe, F. Nagle, and C. Wang, 2016: Resolving cirrus optical depth biases between CALIOP and MODIS using IR retrievals. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, doi:10.5194/acp-16-5075-2016.
Marchant, B., S. Platnick, K. Meyer, G.T. Arnold, and J. Riedi. MODIS Collection 6 shortwave-derived cloud phase classification algorithm and comparisons with CALIOP, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 9, 1587–1599, 2016, doi:10.5194/amt-9-1587-2016.
Cho, H.-M., Z. Zhang, K. Meyer, M. Lebsock, S. Platnick, A. S. Ackerman, L. Di Girolamo, L. C. Labonnote, C. Cornet, J. Riedi, R. E. Holz, 2015: Frequency and causes of failed MODIS cloud property retrievals for liquid phase clouds over global oceans. J. Geophys. Res., doi:10.1002/2015JD023161.
Platnick, S., M. D. King, S. A. Ackerman, W. P. Menzel, B. A. Baum, J. C. Riedi, and R. A. Frey, 2003: The MODIS cloud products: Algorithms and examples from TERRA. IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens., 41, 459-473.
Data Distribution
https://atmosphere-imager.gsfc.nasa.gov/continuity/products