Spatial and Temporal Features of the Frequency of Cloud Occurrence over China Based on CALIOP

Cai, Hongke; Feng, Xuemei; Chen, Quanliang; Sun, Yi; Wu, Zhongjie; Tie, Xin

doi:10.1155/2017/4548357

Cited by 23 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Due to the dependence of surface solar radiation on clouds, the occurrence frequency (Cai et al, 2017) of cloud cover could be very useful to characterise, for example, fluctuations in incoming solar radiation received on solar panels in a given area. For the three cloud types being considered in the study, we computed (and compared) the occurrence frequency retrieved from the two datasets for only daytime hours (i.e.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatio‐temporal variability of cloud cover types in West Africa with satellite‐based and reanalysis data

Danso

Anquetin

Diedhiou

et al. 2019

Quart J Royal Meteoro Soc

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This study aims to understand and document the occurrence and variability of cloud cover types in West Africa (WA). Investigations are carried out with a 10‐year hourly record of two cloud data products: CERES passive satellite observations and ERA5 reanalysis. The seasonal evolutions of high (HCC), middle (MCC), low (LCC) and total (TCC) cloud cover are examined. Both products agree on the seasonal and spatial occurrence of cloud cover, although CERES presents lower values of cloud fraction than ERA5 which is partly attributed to the inability of the satellite sensor to detect optically thin clouds in the atmosphere. Southern WA is found to be cloudier than other parts of the region in all seasons with mean TCC fractions of 70 and 80% for CERES and ERA5 respectively during the monsoon season. In all seasons, the presence of LCC over large areas of the Sahel/Sahara region is noted in the CERES product. This could be due to a possible misinterpretation of Saharan dust as low clouds which may have thus, caused it to overestimate the occurrences and fractions of LCC over this region. Northern WA is associated with higher frequencies of no cloud occurrence events, unlike the south where cloudless skies are rarely observed. Furthermore, in southern WA, overcast conditions of LCC are observed for a significant number of times (up to 20% of the time during the rainy season in CERES and 40% in ERA5). The climatology of cloud cover presented in this study could be useful for the planning of solar energy projects.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatio‐temporal variability of cloud cover types in West Africa with satellite‐based and reanalysis data

Danso

Anquetin

Diedhiou

et al. 2019

Quart J Royal Meteoro Soc

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“…al., 2015). The prevalence of low, liquid clouds in winter, which are mostly single-layer clouds, is also verified based on CALIPSO data (Cai et al, 2017). 5a and 5b).…”

Section: Cloud Characteristics and Changesmentioning

confidence: 56%

Satellite observations of aerosols and clouds over southern China from 2006 to 2015: analysis of changes and possible interaction mechanisms

Benas¹,

Meirink²,

Karlsson³

et al. 2018

Preprint

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<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> Aerosol and cloud properties over southern China during the 10-year period 2006&#8211;2015 are analysed based on observations from passive and active satellite sensors and emission data. The results show a decrease in aerosol optical depth over the study area by about 20&#8201;% on average, accompanied by an increase in liquid cloud cover and cloud liquid water path (LWP) by 5&#8201;% and 13&#8201;%, respectively. Analysis of aerosol types and emissions suggests that the main driver for their reduction is a decrease in biomass burning aerosols. These changes occurred mainly in late autumn and early winter months and coincided with changes in cloud properties. For the latter, possible explanatory mechanisms were examined, including changes in circulation patterns and aerosol-cloud interactions. Further analysis of changes in aerosol vertical profiles demonstrates a consistency of the observed aerosol and cloud changes with the aerosol semi-direct effect, which depends on their relative heights. Based on this mechanism, fewer absorbing aerosols in the cloud layer would lead to an overall decrease in evaporation of cloud droplets, thus increasing cloud LWP and cover.</p>

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“…The cloud top pressure in the Tibetan Plateau and the Mongolian Plateau is less than 440hPa, and the altitude is above 7km, both of which are dominated by single-layer high clouds (Cai et al, 2017). Therefore, in this study, the characteristics of the relative heights of the clouds are smaller than those of other regions.…”

Section: Horizontal Distribution Of Cloud Height and Cloudmentioning

confidence: 74%

Spatial and Temporal Distribution of the Cloud Height and Cloud Thickness Over China and the Adjacent Areas Based on Caliop

Feng

Cai

Wang³

et al. 2019

Int. Arch. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci.

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Abstract. Based on CALIOP data, spatial and temporal distribution of cloud height and thickness over China as well as the adjacent areas have been analysed in this paper. The results show significant regional differences. The heights of clouds that lie to the south of 27.6°N are greater than those to the north of 27.6°N. The highest and thickest clouds are located above the Bay of Bengal and the Western Pacific, while the lowest values distribute in the northwest of the Tibetan Plateau and Sichuan Basin. The clouds ranging from 0.3 km to 0.6 km thickness account for a large proportion of total clouds. And the probability of occurrence of clouds decreases as cloud thickness increases. Overall, within the area under study, the thick clouds are higher than the thin clouds. Besides, low and thin clouds occur more frequently than high and thick clouds. As for their seasonal variation, the height of clouds peaks in summer. In addition, the mean of cloud thickness to the south of 27.6°N is 2.4 km thicker in summer than in any other season.

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Spatial and Temporal Features of the Frequency of Cloud Occurrence over China Based on CALIOP

Cited by 23 publications

References 28 publications

Spatio‐temporal variability of cloud cover types in West Africa with satellite‐based and reanalysis data

Spatio‐temporal variability of cloud cover types in West Africa with satellite‐based and reanalysis data

Satellite observations of aerosols and clouds over southern China from 2006 to 2015: analysis of changes and possible interaction mechanisms

Spatial and Temporal Distribution of the Cloud Height and Cloud Thickness Over China and the Adjacent Areas Based on Caliop

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