Vertical distributions and relationships of cloud occurrence frequency as observed by MISR, AIRS, MODIS, OMI, CALIPSO, and CloudSat

Multi-sensor cloud height observations are investigated and compared in terms of vertical and latitudinal distributions of monthly mean cloud occurrence frequency (COF). Although this study emphasizes the standard Multiangle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) cloud top height (CTH) retrieval, the strengths and weakness among different passive and active remote sensing techniques with respect to cloud detection and height assessment are also discussed. The standard MISR CTH retrieval is less sensitive to high thin cirrus than the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) and Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO), but MISR provides more accurate CTH retrievals in the middle and lower troposphere compared with other passive sensors, especially for clouds in the planetary boundary layer.