Abstract
It is a challenge to distinguish between different cloud types because of the complexity and diversity of cloud coverage, which is a significant clutter source that impacts on target detection and identification from the images of space-based infrared sensors. In this paper, a novel strategy for cloud classification in wide-swath passive sensor images is developed, which is aided by narrow-swath active sensor data. The strategy consists of three steps, that is, the orbit registration, most matching donor pixel selection, and cloud type assignment for each recipient pixel. A new criterion for orbit registration is proposed so as to improve the matching accuracy. The most matching donor pixel is selected via the Euclidean distance and the square sum of the radiance relative differences between the recipient and the potential donor pixels. Each recipient pixel is then assigned a cloud type that corresponds to the most matching donor. The cloud classification of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images is performed with the aid of the data from Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR). The results are compared with the CloudSat product 2B-CLDCLASS, as well as those that are obtained using the method of the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP), which demonstrates the superior classification performance of the proposed strategy.
Highlights
The cloud represents one of the largest modulators of earth’s radiation and is a significant and complex clutter source that impacts on space-based infrared sensors [1,2,3,4]
Cloud classification is still one of the most difficult issues in spaceborne earth observation models, because cloud performances are significantly different for a variety of cloud types, but they are impacted by multilayer clouds, which occur frequently, leading to significant errors in estimating the effects of clouds [5,6,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20]
A novel strategy is proposed to classify clouds, including single-layer and multilayer clouds, in wide-swath passive sensor images, with the aid of narrow-swath active sensor data, following the similar radiance matching (SRM) hypothesis [18,33] that any two cloudy pixels can be assumed to be those with the same type, if they are in proximity to one another and have a sufficiently similar radiance
Summary
The cloud represents one of the largest modulators of earth’s radiation and is a significant and complex clutter source that impacts on space-based infrared sensors [1,2,3,4]. A novel strategy is proposed to classify clouds, including single-layer and multilayer clouds, in wide-swath passive sensor images, with the aid of narrow-swath active sensor data, following the similar radiance matching (SRM) hypothesis [18,33] that any two cloudy pixels can be assumed to be those with the same type, if they are in proximity to one another and have a sufficiently similar radiance. The boundary selection of the orbit registration criterion is presented in Appendix A
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
