A Dynamic Threshold Cloud Detecting Approach based on the Brightness Temperature from FY-2 VISSR Data

Abstract. The traditional statistical methods and radiation transfer theory methods for cloud detecting have a high adaptability just only in those areas with a uniform surface coverage and noncomplex terrain. Therefore, adapted to large spatial and temporal scales, in this work a cloud detection method is developed, seeking the main influencing factors of the change of Brightness Temperature(BT) of clear sky and their relationships, researching the change regularity and normal fluctuation range of BT on the basis of function fitting, setting the cloud detecting dynamic threshold depending on the cloud spectral characteristics, and making accuracy assessment in order to ensure higher adaptability and accuracy of this cloud detecting method. In this paper, a dynamic threshold algorithm is presented for cloud detection using daytime imagery from the VISSR sensor on board FY-2C/D/E, which is the first generation geostationary satellite. And the land surface/brightness temperature influence functions are analysis and established, including latitude, longitude, altitude, time, land cover. The theoretical temperature value of clear sky can be calculated through these influence functions. Then, the dynamic threshold cloud detection model is proposed based on the high temporal resolution of VISSR data. Meanwhile, the land surface emissivity is considered as the main factor to the change range of brightness temperature which determines the dynamic threshold for cloud detection. Finally, the dynamic threshold cloud detecting model is evaluated using FY-2C/D/E VISSR data covering China, and the Kappa of dynamic method is maximum, equalling 0.6195, which is much higher than the indexes for the reflectivity and BT fixed methods, equalling 0.4511 and 0.403, respectively. Consequently, the dynamic threshold cloud detecting method provides an important improvement because the spatial, temporal and geographic characteristics were considered into the model.