Cloud detection from multi-angular polarimetric satellite measurements using a neural network ensemble approach
Atmospheric measurement techniques, vol. 17, pp. 2595–2610
Abstract
This paper describes a neural network cloud masking scheme from PARASOL (Polarization and Anisotropy of Reflectances for Atmospheric Science coupled with Observations from a Lidar) multi-angle polarimetric measurements. The algorithm has been trained on synthetic measurements and has been applied to the processing of 1 year of PARASOL data. Comparisons of the retrieved cloud fraction with MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) products show overall agreement in spatial and temporal patterns, but the PARASOL neural network (PARASOL-NN) retrieves lower cloud fractions. Comparisons with a goodness-of-fit mask from aerosol retrievals suggest that the NN cloud mask flags fewer clear pixels as cloudy than MODIS (∼ 3 % of the clear pixels versus ∼ 15 % by MODIS). On the other hand the NN classifies more pixels incorrectly as clear than MODIS (∼ 20 % by NN, versus ∼ 15 % by MODIS). Additionally, the NN and MODIS cloud mask have been applied to the aerosol retrievals from PARASOL using the Remote Sensing of Trace Gas and Aerosol Products (RemoTAP) algorithm. Validation with AERONET shows that the NN cloud mask performs comparably with MODIS in screening residual cloud contamination in retrieved aerosol properties. Our study demonstrates that cloud masking from multi-angle polarimeter (MAP) aerosol retrievals can be performed based on the MAP measurements themselves, making the retrievals independent of the availability of a cloud imager.
Authors 6
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Zihao Yuan corresponding Aachen Space Research Organisation Netherlands (Leiden Institute of Environmental Science Netherlands Institute for Space Research (SRON
Leiden University · NWO-I · Space Research Organisation Netherlands
Affiliation as printed
Leiden University (Leiden, Netherlands)
Space Research Organisation Netherlands (Leiden, Netherlands)
Institute of Environmental Science (CML), Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
Netherlands Institute for Space Research (SRON, NWO-I), Leiden, the Netherlands
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NWO-I · Space Research Organisation Netherlands
Affiliation as printed
Netherlands Institute for Space Research (SRON, NWO-I), Leiden, the Netherlands
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NWO-I · Space Research Organisation Netherlands
Affiliation as printed
Netherlands Institute for Space Research (SRON, NWO-I), Leiden, the Netherlands
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Leiden University · Delft University of Technology
Affiliation as printed
Delft Institute of Applied Mathematics, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
Institute of Environmental Science (CML), Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
Institute of Environmental Science (CML), Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
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NWO-I · Space Research Organisation Netherlands
Affiliation as printed
Netherlands Institute for Space Research (SRON, NWO-I), Leiden, the Netherlands
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