Clouds
Product Description
AIRS Standard Cloud Product
The AIRS instrument operationally produces three cloud products related to climate: Fractional Cloud Cover, Cloud Top Pressure, and Cloud Top Temperature. Current research efforts are underway using AIRS data to determine the phase of clouds (liquid, ice, or both), the cloud particle sizes and shapes, and other properties that will help to answer the question about the relevance of clouds to Earth's climate.
Fractional Cloud Cover
This quantity represents the fraction of clouds in a 45 x 45 km area. It is produced as part of the AIRS "cloud-clearing" algorithm in order to produce the Cloud Cleared Infrared Radiances product.
Cloud Top Pressure
Reported on the AMSU FOV (45 x 45 km) for up to two cloud layers.
Cloud Top Temperature
Reported on the AMSU FOV (45 x 45 km) for up to two cloud layers.
Cloud Top Height
Although not directly reported by AIRS, cloud top height can be calculated from cloud top pressure and the atmospheric temperature profile.
Data Source
Available in L2 and L3 data product sets.
Image Examples
Cloud Multimedia web page
More Information
For more detail about AIRS geophysical products, refer to the AIRS Version 5 Release Level 2 Standard Product QuickStart Guide.
Additional information is also found on the AIRS Documentation Page on the data distribution web site at the Goddard DAAC.
