Characterization of Cumliform Cloud Fields Using Space Shuttle Photography

摘要

A space shuttle experiment called CLOUDS, sponsored by the USAF and directed by AFGL, involves photographing various cloud scenes from orbital heights. A particular objective of the experiment is the quantification of the increase in apparent cloud cover with the angle at which the clouds are viewed. Using series of photographs of specific target cloud scenes a physically realistic model for cumuliform cloud fields is obtained. The model allows the determination of actual cloud cover from a single measurement of apparent cloud cover at a known view angle, at least for the single-layer totally opaque cumuliform clouds considered in the development.