Cloud detection over desert regions using the 412 nanometer MODIS channel
- 3 December 2003
- journal article
- Published by American Geophysical Union (AGU) in Geophysical Research Letters
- Vol. 30 (23)
- https://doi.org/10.1029/2003gl018446
Abstract
A method is proposed to enhance the performance of automated cloud detection algorithms in the vicinity of desert regions. The approach uses data in MODIS Channel 8, which has a bandpass of 405–420 nanometers (nm) where a strong contrast exists between the more highly reflective clouds and lower reflective cloud-free desert regions. Special processing is required to exploit cloud signatures since the MODIS high (880) signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) requirement in this band causes saturation. The value of 412 nm data is demonstrated in the analysis of a scene that contains clouds over the western part of the Sahara Desert and has airborne sand and dust extending over the eastern Atlantic Ocean.Keywords
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