Comparison of Stratus Cloud Optical Depths Retrieved from Surface and GOES Measurements over the ARM SGP Central Facility

The climatic importance of the microphysical and radiative properties of clouds, particularly cloud droplet effective radii (re), optical depths (τ), and albedos are widely recognized. For reliable application of satellite datasets in cloud process and single column models, it is important to have a reasonable estimate of the errors in the derived cloud properties. When properly used, ground-based instruments can provide a cloud truth dataset for estimating errors in the satellite products. Because clouds are so variable, a statistically reliable validation requires coincident satellitesurface measurements taken in a variety of conditions. This paper examines the retrievals of boundary-layer stratus cloud properties and associated top-of-atmosphere (TOA) albedos.