ALBERT

Description: In radiative transfer simulations the simplification of cloud top structure by homogenous assumptions can breed to mistakes in comparison to realistic heterogeneous cloud top structures. This paper examines the influence of cloud top heterogeneity on the radiation at the top of the atmosphere. The use of cloud top measurements with a high temporal resolution allows to analyse small spatial cloud top heterogeneities by using the frozen turbulence assumption for the time – space conversion. Radiative observations are often based on satellite measurements, whereas small spatial structures are not considered in such treatments. A spectral analysis of the cloud top measurements showed slopes of power spectra between –1.8 and –2.0, this values are larger then the spectra of –5/3 which is often applied to generate cloud field variability. The comparison of 3-D radiative transfer results from cloud fields with homogenous and heterogeneous tops have been done for a single wavelength of 0.6 μm. The radiative transfer calculations result in lower albedos for heterogeneous cloud tops. The differences of albedos between heterogeneous and homogeneous cloud top decrease with increasing solar zenith angle. The influence of cloud top variability on radiances is shown. Explicitly in forward direction the reflectances for heterogeneous tops are larger, in backward direction lower. The largest difference of the mean reflectances (mean over cloud field) between homogeneous and heterogeneous cloud top is approximately 0.3, which is 30% of illumination.

Description: Remote sensing data provide area integrated information of surface properties in different spatial or temporal resolutions according to different sensor features. Landsat ETM+, Terra MODIS and NOAA-AVHRR surface temperature and spectral reflectance were used to infer further surface parameters and radiant- and energy flux densities for LITFASS-area, a 20×20 km2 heterogeneous area in Eastern Germany, mainly characterized by the land use types forest, crop, grass and water. Based on the Penman-Monteith-approach the actual latent heat flux (L.E), as key quantity of the hydrological cycle, is determined for each sensor in the accordant spatial resolution with an improved parametrization. However, using three sensors, significant discrepancies between the inferred parameters can cause flux distinctions resultant from differences of the sensor filter response functions or atmospheric correction methods. The approximation of MODIS- and AVHRR- derived surface parameters to the reference parameters of ETM (via regression lines and histogram stretching, respectively), further the use of accurate land use classifications (CORINE and a new Landsat-classification), and a consistent parametrization for the three sensors were realized to obtain a uniform base for investigations of the spatial variability. For the target area the spatial heterogeneity is analysed investigating frequency distribution functions (PDF) for surface parameters and energy fluxes. PDF is the most promising way to describe subgrid heterogeneity due to the given data in different spatial resolution. Aim of this study is to find typical distribution pattern of parameters (albedo, NDVI) for the determination of L.E determined from the highly resolved ETM data within pixel on coarser scale (MODIS, AVHRR). The analyses for 4 scenes in 2002 and 2003 showed that clear distribution-pattern for forest for NDVI and albedo are found. Grass and crop distributions show higher variability and differ significantly to each other in NDVI but only marginal in albedo. Regarding NDVI-distribution functions NDVI was found to be the key variable for L.E-determination.

Description: The global Dx dataset of the "International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project" (ISCCP) with a spatial resolution of about 30×30 km2 was analysed to produce spatially highly resolved long-time datasets to describe the radiation budget for Central Europe over the period of 1984–2000. The computation of shortwave and longwave radiant flux densities at top of atmosphere and at surface was based on 1-D radiative transfer simulations. The simulations were carried out for all relevant atmospheric and surface conditions and the results were inserted into a look-up table. Thus, long-time calculations for all conditions and time slices of the Dx dataset could be realised. The study is focussed on the global radiation at surface. The first examination was carried out for the ISCCP D1 and the ISCCP D2 dataset. These datasets, including cloud and surface information on a different spatial scale (280×280 km2), were applied to the produced look-up table analogue to the Dx data. The calculated global radiation of the D1 and D2 dataset were compared to the Dx dataset. The differences between these datasets mainly range from 5–15 W m−2 (2–6%) with regional peaks up to 25 W m−2 (10%). The evaluation with the GEWEX "Surface Radiation Budget" (SRB) data emphasises differ-ences between 5–25 W m−2 (6–16%) over land areas. Deviations to an ISCCP provided flux data set vary from 0 W m−2 in the North up to 35 W m−2 (0–13%) in the South of Central Europe. The global radiation datasets provided by the "Global Energy Balance Archive" (GEBA) and the "German Meteorological Service" (DWD) agree well, but they are 5–25 W m−2 (7–10%) lower than the Dx results. Annual analyses of global radiation of various regional climate models complete the study. It is figured out that the used models and methods reveal a couple of discrepancies. Especially in wintertime the results of our analysis differ to the considered models. Principally the uncer-tainties were caused by the determined range of values and simplifications for the computation of the radiative transfer simulation.

Description: The global Dx dataset of the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) with a spatial resolution of about 30×30 km² was analysed to produce spatially highly resolved long-time datasets to describe the radiation budget for Central Europe over the period of 1984–2000. The computation of shortwave and longwave radiant flux densities at top of atmosphere and at surface was based on 1D radiative transfer simulations. The simulations were carried out for all relevant atmospheric and surface conditions and the results were inserted into a look-up table. Thus, long-time calculations for all conditions and time slices of the Dx dataset could be realised. The study is focussed on the global radiation at surface. The first examination was carried out for the ISCCP D1 and the ISCCP D2 dataset. These datasets, including cloud and surface information on a different spatial scale (280×280 km2), were applied to the produced look-up table analogue to the Dx data. The calculated global radiation of the D1 and D2 dataset were compared to the Dx dataset. The differences between these datasets mainly range from 5–15 Wm−2 (2–6%) with regional peaks up to 25 Wm−2 (10%). The evaluation with the GEWEX Surface Radiation Budget (SRB) data emphasises differences between 5–25 Wm−2 (6–16%) over land areas. Deviations to an ISCCP provided flux data set vary from 0 Wm−2 in the North up to 35 Wm−2 (0–13%) in the South of Central Europe. The global radiation datasets provided by the Global Energy Balance Archive (GEBA) and the German Meteorological Service (DWD) agree well, but they are 5–25 Wm−2 (7–10%) lower than the Dx results. Annual analyses of global radiation of various regional climate models complete the study. It is figured out that the used models and methods reveal a couple of discrepancies. Especially in wintertime the results of our analysis differ to the considered models. Principally the uncertainties were caused by the determined range of values and simplifications for the computation of the radiative transfer simulation.

Description: In radiative transfer simulations the simplification of cloud top structure by homogeneous assumptions can cause mistakes in comparison to realistic heterogeneous cloud top structures. This paper examines the influence of cloud top heterogeneity on the radiation at the top of the atmosphere. The use of cloud top measurements with a high temporal resolution allows the analysis of small spatial cloud top heterogeneities by using the frozen turbulence assumption for the time – space conversion. Radiative observations are often based on satellite measurements, whereas small spatial structures are not considered in such treatments. A spectral analysis of the cloud top measurements showed slopes of power spectra between –1.8 and –2.0, these values are larger than the spectra of –5/3 which is often applied to generate cloud field variability. The comparison of 3-D radiative transfer results from cloud fields with homogeneous and heterogeneous tops has been done for a single wavelength of 0.6 μm. The radiative transfer calculations result in lower albedos for heterogeneous cloud tops. The differences of albedos between heterogeneous and homogeneous cloud top decrease with increasing solar zenith angle. The influence of cloud top variability on radiances is shown. The reflectances for heterogeneous tops are explicitly larger in forward direction, in backward direction lower. The largest difference of the mean reflectances (mean over cloud field) between homogeneous and heterogeneous cloud top is approximately 0.3, which is 30% of illumination.

Description: Based on satellite data in different temporal and spatial resolution, the current use of frequency distribution functions (PDF) for surface parameters and energy fluxes is one of the most promising ways to describe subgrid heterogeneity of a landscape. Objective of this study is to find typical distribution patterns of parameters (albedo, NDVI) for the determination of the actual latent heat flux (L.E) determined from highly resolved satellite data within pixel on coarser scale. Landsat ETM+, Terra MODIS and NOAA-AVHRR surface temperature and spectral reflectance were used to infer further surface parameters and radiant- and energy flux densities for LITFASS-area, a 20×20 km2 heterogeneous area in Eastern Germany, mainly characterised by the land use types forest, crop, grass and water. Based on the Penman-Monteith-approach L.E, as key quantity of the hydrological cycle, is determined for each sensor in the accordant spatial resolution with an improved parametrisation. However, using three sensors, significant discrepancies between the inferred parameters can cause flux distinctions resultant from differences of the sensor filter response functions or atmospheric correction methods. The approximation of MODIS- and AVHRR- derived surface parameters to the reference parameters of ETM (via regression lines and histogram stretching, respectively), further the use of accurate land use classifications (CORINE and a new Landsat-classification), and a consistent parametrisation for the three sensors were realized to obtain a uniform base for investigations of the spatial variability. The analyses for 4 scenes in 2002 and 2003 showed that for forest clear distribution-patterns for NDVI and albedo are found. Grass and crop distributions show higher variability and differ significantly to each other in NDVI but only marginal in albedo. Regarding NDVI-distribution functions NDVI was found to be the key variable for L.E-determination.

Description: We retrieved the total content of the atmospheric water vapor (or Integrated Water Vapor, IWV) from extensive sets of photometric data obtained since 1995 at Lindenberg Meteorological Observatory with star and sun photometers. Different methods of determination of the empirical parameters that are necessary for the retrieval are discussed. The instruments were independently calibrated using laboratory measurements made at Pulkovo Observatory with the VKM-100 multi-pass vacuum cell. The empirical parameters were also calculated by the simulation of the atmospheric absorption by water vapor, using the MODRAN-4 program package for different model atmospheres. The results are compared to those presented in the literature, obtained with different instruments and methods of the retrieval. The reliability of the empirical parameters, used for the power approximation that links the water vapor content with the observed absorption, is analyzed. Currently, the total (from measurements, calibration, and calculations) errors yield the standard uncertainty of about 10 % in the total column water vapor. We discuss the possibilities for improving the accuracy of calibration to ~1 % as indispensable condition in order to make it possible to use data obtained by optical photometry as an independent reference for other methods (GPS, MW-radiometers, lidar, etc).