[A-AS01] [EE] 3D Cloud Modeling as a Tool for 3D Radiative Transfer, and Conversely

[AAS01-P05] Cloud inhomogeneity effect and its impact on cloud retrieval using passive satellite instruments

*Chenxi Wang¹, Steven Platnick², Zhibo Zhang³, Kerry Meyer⁴, Thomas Fauchez⁴ (1.ESSIC, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA, 2.NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA, 3.Department of Physics, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, 4.Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research, Universities Space Research Association, Columbia, Maryland, USA)

Keywords:Cloud retrieval, Cloud inhomogeneity

Cloud optical and microphysical properties, together with cloud-top height, determine cloud radiative effects and impact Earth energy budget. While nature clouds are horizontally and vertically inhomogeneous, most of current retrieval algorithms consider cloud as a homogeneous layer in their forward models. In this study, cloud inhomogeneity effects are investigated in two different ways: (1) cloud sub-pixel inhomogeneity (horizontal inhomogeneous) and (2) vertical inhomogeneity (e.g., cloud microphysical property varies with height). We will show the impact from cloud inhomogeneity effects on current retrieval algorithms relying on observations of passive satellite instruments (e.g., infrared (IR) and/or solar reflectance observations). We also developed retrieval correction method to reduce biases due to cloud inhomogeneity effects.