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Ackerman, T.

Publications and source records attributed to Ackerman, T..

MISR Science Data Validation Plan Summary Charts

The purpose of the MISR experiment is to acquire systematic multi-angle imagery for global monitoring over a multi-year period of top-of-atmosphere and surface albedos and to measure the shortwave radiative properties of aerosols, clouds, and surface scenes.

MISR science data validation plan summary charts

MISR - Science Data Validation Plan

This Science Data Validation Plan describes the plans for validating a subset of the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) Level 2 algorithms and data products and supplying top-of-atmosphere (TOA) radiances to the In-flight Radiometric Calibration and Characterization (IFRCC) subsystem for vicarious calibration.

MISR science data validation Plan

Comparisons of downwelling radiation to model predictions based on groundbased measurements during FIRE 1991

Surface radiation measurements and simultaneous ground-based measurements of the atmosphere during the FIRE'91 cirrus field experiment provided an opportunity to identify crucial measurements and parameterization deficiencies in current cloud-radiation models. Comparisons between measured and calculated broadband surface fluxes with only a small data subset already reveal these needs: accurate humidity and aerosol vertical profiles for clear cases, accurate vertical extinction profiles and dimensions for clouds, and understanding of the (solar) scattering properties of cirrus.

Kinne, S.

Dynamical characteristics of cirrus clouds from aircraft and radar measurements

Cirrus clouds play an important role in climate and in the development of other types of clouds. Although there are many studies of clouds within the boundary layer, cirrus clouds have been neglected up until the last decade. New tools and in-situ measurements of various physical and dynamical parameters permit us to now study cirrus clouds in much greater detail. Physical and dynamical structures of cirrus clouds were studied in detail by Heymsfield using aircraft measurements. He emphasized the importance of interactions among physical and dynamical processes. Cirrus clouds often exhibit complex physical and dynamical structure. Upper tropospheric flows contain not only coherent structures, but also chaotic movements. The coherent structures (organized movements) transfer significant amounts of heat and momentum while their form, size, and intensity depend strongly on environmental instability. Various dynamical structures including cells, waves, and turbulence are studied in order to understand cirrus cloud formation and development.

Gultepe, I.

Radiative transfer in cirrus clouds from airborne flux and microphysical measurements during FIRE 86

Microphysical and radiation measurements from three case studies during FIRE 86 are presented and analyzed. Calculated solar and infrared flux profiles are compared to measured flux values for the studies. The flux comparison shows that the modeled cirrus cloud underestimates cloud extinction, especially near the cloud base, where modeled extinctions are largest. The large downward solar attenuation near the cloud base cannot be matched, while the modeled solar reflection is too small. Most of this difference is attributed to an underestimation of cloud optical depth in the model. Modeling difficulties and difficulties in the measurements are discussed. It is proposed that, in order to assure a more useful flux comparison, field experiment set-ups and instrumentation as well as the modeling of cirrus clouds need to be improved.

Kinne, S.