Automatic cloud top height determination in mountainous areas using a cost-effective time-lapse camera system

作者:Schulz H M*; Chang S C; Thies B; Bendix J
来源:Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, 2014, 7(12): 4185-4201.
DOI:10.5194/amt-7-4185-2014

摘要

A new method is presented for the determination of cloud top heights using the footage of a time-lapse camera that is placed above a frequently occurring cloud layer in a mountain valley. Contact points between cloud tops and underlying terrain are automatically detected in the camera image based on differences in the brightness, texture and movement of cloudy and non-cloudy areas. The height of the detected cloud top positions is determined by comparison with a digital elevation model projected to the view of the camera. The technique has been validated using data about the cloud immersion of a second camera as well as via visual assessment. The validation shows a high detection quality, especially regarding the requirements for the validation of satellite cloud top retrieval algorithms.