4-D cloud water content fields derived from operational satellite data

Figure 3 shows the mean shape factors derived from CloudSat data taken during April-June, 2008 over the domain shown in figure. 1. These shape factors were derived for clouds with ΔZ between 2 km and 4 km and also binned as a function of CWP and Tc. Similar results have been tabulated for thinner and thicker clouds (not shown). Figure 4 depicts the CWC profile derived from GOES-12 when applying the appropriate shape factors to the GOES-derived cloud parameters corresponding to the case shown in figure 2. The level of agreement between the GOES-derived CWC profile and that derived from CloudSat is very encouraging. Refinements to this technique are a work in progress. A statistical evaluation and potential applications to improve NWP cloud analyses and for improving a satellite based flight icing threat algorithm will be presented at the meeting.