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https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1651
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1651
28 Aug 2024
 | 28 Aug 2024

Radiative Closure Assessment of Retrieved Cloud and Aerosol Properties for the EarthCARE Mission: The ACMB-DF Product

Howard W. Barker, Jason N. S. Cole, Najda Villefranque, Zhipeng Qu, Almudena Velázquez Blázquez, Carlos Domenech, Shannon L. Mason, and Robin J. Hogan

Abstract. Measurements made by three instruments aboard the EarthCARE satellite, plus data from auxiliary sources, will be used to synergistically retrieve estimates of cloud and aerosol properties. The ACMB-DF processor consists of a continuous radiative closure assessment of these retrievals and is both described and demonstrated in this study. The closure procedure begins with 3D radiative transfer models (RTMs) acting on retrieved and auxiliary data. These models yield upwelling shortwave and longwave broadband radiances commensurate with measurements made by EarthCARE’s multi-angle broadband radiometer (BBR). Measured and modelled radiances are averaged up to “assessment domains”, that measure ~21 km along-track by no more than 5 km across-track, centred on the retrieved cross-section of ~1 km profiles, and are then combined, by angular distributions models (ADMs), to produce “effective” upwelling fluxes at the top-of-atmosphere, denoted as FBBR and FRTM, respectively. Last, the probability 𝑝ΔF^ of |FRTM – FBBR| being less than ΔF^ W m-2 is estimated recognizing as many sources of, assumed normally distributed, uncertainties as possible. For historical/programmatic reasons, ΔF^ is set to 10 W m-2, but that might change during EarthCARE’s commissioning phase and with Sun angle. The closure process is demonstrated up to calculation of 𝑝ΔF^ using four 400 km-long portions of one of EarthCARE’s test frames for which simulated passive measurements were computed by 3D RTMs. Note that this study, like the ACMB-DF process with real EarthCARE observations, does not comment explicitly on performance of retrieval algorithms.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

14 Jul 2025
Radiative closure assessment of retrieved cloud and aerosol properties for the EarthCARE mission: the ACMB-DF product
Howard W. Barker, Jason N. S. Cole, Najda Villefranque, Zhipeng Qu, Almudena Velázquez Blázquez, Carlos Domenech, Shannon L. Mason, and Robin J. Hogan
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 3095–3107, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-3095-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-3095-2025, 2025
Short summary
Howard W. Barker, Jason N. S. Cole, Najda Villefranque, Zhipeng Qu, Almudena Velázquez Blázquez, Carlos Domenech, Shannon L. Mason, and Robin J. Hogan

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1651', Anonymous Referee #2, 02 Sep 2024
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC1', Zhipeng Qu, 31 Oct 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1651', Anonymous Referee #1, 29 Sep 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC2', Zhipeng Qu, 31 Oct 2024

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1651', Anonymous Referee #2, 02 Sep 2024
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC1', Zhipeng Qu, 31 Oct 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1651', Anonymous Referee #1, 29 Sep 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC2', Zhipeng Qu, 31 Oct 2024

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Zhipeng Qu on behalf of the Authors (31 Oct 2024)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (15 Nov 2024) by Hajime Okamoto
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (26 Nov 2024)
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (02 Dec 2024)
ED: Publish as is (03 Apr 2025) by Hajime Okamoto
AR by Zhipeng Qu on behalf of the Authors (08 Apr 2025)

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

14 Jul 2025
Radiative closure assessment of retrieved cloud and aerosol properties for the EarthCARE mission: the ACMB-DF product
Howard W. Barker, Jason N. S. Cole, Najda Villefranque, Zhipeng Qu, Almudena Velázquez Blázquez, Carlos Domenech, Shannon L. Mason, and Robin J. Hogan
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 3095–3107, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-3095-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-3095-2025, 2025
Short summary
Howard W. Barker, Jason N. S. Cole, Najda Villefranque, Zhipeng Qu, Almudena Velázquez Blázquez, Carlos Domenech, Shannon L. Mason, and Robin J. Hogan
Howard W. Barker, Jason N. S. Cole, Najda Villefranque, Zhipeng Qu, Almudena Velázquez Blázquez, Carlos Domenech, Shannon L. Mason, and Robin J. Hogan

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Latest update: 14 Jul 2025
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Short summary
Measurements made by three instruments aboard EarthCARE are used to retrieve estimates of cloud and aerosol properties. A radiative closure assessment of these retrievals is performed by the ACMB-DF processor. Radiative transfer models acting on retrieved information produce broadband radiances commensurate with measurements made by EarthCARE’s broadband radiometer. Measured and modelled radiances for small domains are compared and the likelihood of them differing by 10 W/m2 defines the closure.
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