Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-540
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-540
26 Feb 2024
 | 26 Feb 2024

Information Content of Brightness Temperature Differences of Spaceborne Imagers with respect to Cloud Phase

Johanna Mayer, Bernhard Mayer, Luca Bugliaro, Ralf Meerkötter, and Christiane Voigt

Abstract. This study investigates the sensitivity of two brightness temperature differences (BTDs) in the infrared (IR) window of the SEVIRI imager to various cloud parameters in order to better understand their information content, with a focus on cloud thermodynamic phase. To this end, this study presents radiative transfer calculations, providing an overview of the relative importance of all radiatively relevant cloud parameters, including thermodynamic phase, cloud top temperature (CTT), optical thickness (τ), effective radius (Reff) and ice crystal habit. By disentangling the roles of cloud absorption and scattering, we are able to explain the relationships of the BTDs to the cloud parameters on the one hand by spectral differences in the cloud optical properties. In addition, an effect due to the nonlinear transformation from radiances to brightness temperatures contributes to the specific characteristics of the BTDs and their dependence on τ and CTT. We find that the dependence of the BTDs on phase is more complex than sometimes assumed. Although both BTDs are directly sensitive to phase, this sensitivity is comparatively small in contrast to other cloud parameters. Instead, the primary link between phase and the BTDs lies in their sensitivity to CTT, which is associated with phase. One consequence is that distinguishing high ice clouds from low liquid clouds is straightforward, but distinguishing mid-level ice clouds from mid-level liquid clouds is challenging. These findings help to better understand and improve the working principles of phase retrieval algorithms.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

05 Sep 2024
How well can brightness temperature differences of spaceborne imagers help to detect cloud phase? A sensitivity analysis regarding cloud phase and related cloud properties
Johanna Mayer, Bernhard Mayer, Luca Bugliaro, Ralf Meerkötter, and Christiane Voigt
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 5161–5185, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-5161-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-5161-2024, 2024
Short summary
Johanna Mayer, Bernhard Mayer, Luca Bugliaro, Ralf Meerkötter, and Christiane Voigt

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • CC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-540', Andrew Heidinger, 22 Mar 2024
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-540', Anonymous Referee #1, 01 Apr 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-540', Anonymous Referee #2, 30 Apr 2024

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • CC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-540', Andrew Heidinger, 22 Mar 2024
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-540', Anonymous Referee #1, 01 Apr 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-540', Anonymous Referee #2, 30 Apr 2024

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Johanna Mayer on behalf of the Authors (21 May 2024)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (23 May 2024) by Andrew Sayer
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (27 Jun 2024)
ED: Publish as is (27 Jun 2024) by Andrew Sayer
AR by Johanna Mayer on behalf of the Authors (28 Jun 2024)

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

05 Sep 2024
How well can brightness temperature differences of spaceborne imagers help to detect cloud phase? A sensitivity analysis regarding cloud phase and related cloud properties
Johanna Mayer, Bernhard Mayer, Luca Bugliaro, Ralf Meerkötter, and Christiane Voigt
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 5161–5185, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-5161-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-5161-2024, 2024
Short summary
Johanna Mayer, Bernhard Mayer, Luca Bugliaro, Ralf Meerkötter, and Christiane Voigt
Johanna Mayer, Bernhard Mayer, Luca Bugliaro, Ralf Meerkötter, and Christiane Voigt

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Short summary
This study uses radiative transfer calculations to characterize the relation of two satellite channel combinations (namely infrared window brightness temperature differences (BTDs) of the SEVIRI imager) to the thermodynamic cloud phase. A sensitivity analysis reveals the complex interplay of cloud parameters and their contribution to the observed phase dependence of BTDs. This knowledge helps to design optimal cloud phase retrievals and to understand their potential and limitations.