Study on physical and optical properties of cirrus cloud using satellite-based imager

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25287117
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Meteorology/Physical oceanography/Hydrology
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Iwabuchi Hironobu 東北大学, 理学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (80358754)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): HAYASAKA Tadahiro 東北大学, 大学院理学研究科, 教授 (40202262) ; OKAMOTO Hajime 九州大学, 応用力学研究所, 教授 (10333783) ; KATAGIRI Shuichiro 東北大学, 大学院理学研究科, 学術研究員 (20358724)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 気候 / 巻雲 / 衛星観測

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In order to capture the spatial and temporal variations of the upper clouds, which play important roles in determining the radiation balance of the earth, we have developed methods to retrieve the upper cloud properties from the satellite data. Variations of cloud amount and optical and microphysical properties were investigated. In the tropics, distribution of the optically thick upper cloud is well associated with areas of high convective activity. The distribution of the cirrus cloud spreads to the higher latitudes than that of the convective cloud, and the cirrus cloud distribution also fluctuated corresponding to the seasonal cycle of the convective activity. The interannual variation of the upper cloud is closely related to the ENSO. In addition, we developed a cloud analysis algorithm using the Himawari-8 data, and it became possible to capture the temporal variation of clouds with frequent observation of the Himawari-8.

Free Research Field

大気科学