International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project
Encyclopedia
The International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) was established as the first project of the World Climate Research Program (WCRP). Since its inception in 1982, there have been two phases, 1983–1995 and 1995–present. The project is responsible for collection and analysis of weather satellite
radiance measurements. It infers cloud
s' global distribution and properties, along with their diurnal
, seasonal, and interannual variations. The results are studied to understand clouds in climate, including their effects on radiative energy
exchanges, plus their role in the global water cycle. These datasets provide a systematic view of cloud behavior.
The ICCSP headquarters are located at the Goddard Institute for Space Studies
in New York
.
ISCCP data is stored at the ISCCP Central Archive and at NASA
. While the data are typically used for climate study, they are also a valuable resource for astronomical pursuits.
From 1983, institutions from around the world have collected and analyzed satellite radiance measurements from two polar orbiting and five geostationary satellites.
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
radiance measurements. It infers cloud
Cloud
A cloud is a visible mass of liquid droplets or frozen crystals made of water and/or various chemicals suspended in the atmosphere above the surface of a planetary body. They are also known as aerosols. Clouds in Earth's atmosphere are studied in the cloud physics branch of meteorology...
s' global distribution and properties, along with their diurnal
Day
A day is a unit of time, commonly defined as an interval equal to 24 hours. It also can mean that portion of the full day during which a location is illuminated by the light of the sun...
, seasonal, and interannual variations. The results are studied to understand clouds in climate, including their effects on radiative energy
Radiative forcing
In climate science, radiative forcing is generally defined as the change in net irradiance between different layers of the atmosphere. Typically, radiative forcing is quantified at the tropopause in units of watts per square meter. A positive forcing tends to warm the system, while a negative...
exchanges, plus their role in the global water cycle. These datasets provide a systematic view of cloud behavior.
The ICCSP headquarters are located at the Goddard Institute for Space Studies
Goddard Institute for Space Studies
The NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies , at Columbia University in New York City, is a component laboratory of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Earth-Sun Exploration Division and a unit of The Earth Institute at Columbia University...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
ISCCP data is stored at the ISCCP Central Archive and at NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
. While the data are typically used for climate study, they are also a valuable resource for astronomical pursuits.
From 1983, institutions from around the world have collected and analyzed satellite radiance measurements from two polar orbiting and five geostationary satellites.
Objectives
The goals and objectives of the ISCCP have included:
- "Produce a global, reduced-resolution, calibrated and normalized, infrared and visible radiance dataset, along with basic information on the radiative properties of the atmosphere, from which cloud parameters can be derived.
- Coordinate basic research on techniques for inferring the physical properties of clouds from satellite radiance data.
- Derive and validate a global cloud climatology.
- Promote research using ISCCP data to improve parameterizations of clouds in climate models.
- Improve understanding of the earth’s radiation budget (top-of-atmosphere and surface) and hydrological cycle."
Criticism
Some scientists suggest that ISCCP data are "satellite viewing geometry artifacts" and may not be appropriate for some long-term global studies, particurlay those with trend focused.Further reading
- Tsuang, B.-J., Chou, M.-D., Zhang, Y., Roesch, A., & Yang, K. (2008). "Evaluations of Land-Ocean Skin Temperatures of the ISCCP Satellite Retrievals and the NCEP and ERA Reanalyses". Journal of Climate. 21 (2), 308-330. ISSN 0894-8755
- Knapp, K. R. (2008). "Calibration Assessment of ISCCP Geostationary Infrared Observations Using HIRS". Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology. 25 (2), 183-195. ISSN 0739-0572
- Evan, A. T., Heidinger, A. K., & Vimont, D. J. (2007). "Arguments against a physical long-term trend in global ISCCP cloud amounts (DOI 10.1029/2006GL028083)". GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS. 34 (4), L04701. ISSN 0094-8276
- Meinke, I. (2006). "A Comparison of Simulated Clouds to ISCCP Data". MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW- USA. 134 (6), 1669-1681. ISSN 0027-0644