Statistical Analysis of Cloud Properties Around China Region Using MODIS

Abstract:

This study describes a statistical analysis regarding the cloud properties retrieved from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) around China over 10 years of continuous observations from March 2004 to February 2013. Results include the spatial and temporal distribution of cloud fraction, the cloud top pressure and cloud top temperature, and the cloud optical thickness and effective radius of both liquid water and ice clouds. The cloud fraction varies with regions we selected, with a value ~ 60% for China region only. Seasonal variations of cloud fraction will also be represented. Overall, the cloudiness over china southern region is much higher than northern. A clear cloud fraction regional distribution pattern was found: two regions with large amount of clouds and two regions with small amount. A low pressure center is located over Tibetan Plateau accompanying the coldest cloud tops (colder than 230 K). The cloud optical thickness demonstrates almost the same regional distribution pattern among various seasons with large values in southern China and small values in north, which is most likely associated with the cloud types. The cloud ice effective particle radius much larger in the northern China than in the southern for all seasons, whereas the regional distribution of cloud droplet effective radius depends on seasons, likely reflecting their differences in aerosol-cloud interactions and atmospheric dynamics.