Cloud Statistics from Calipso Lidar Data for the ... - espace-tum.de
Cloud Statistics from Calipso Lidar Data for the ... - espace-tum.de
Cloud Statistics from Calipso Lidar Data for the ... - espace-tum.de
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Chapter 5. <strong>Cloud</strong> free statistics 56<br />
5.4 Conclusion<br />
With a global cloud gap length and distribution statistic at hand, a first estimate on<br />
<strong>the</strong> per<strong>for</strong>mance of a future space-based lidar system can be per<strong>for</strong>med. While approximately<br />
only 2 % of all cloud gaps exceed 50 km length (see Figure 19) a perfect global<br />
retrieval of methane <strong>from</strong> MERLIN is highly unlikely. However, as <strong>the</strong> cloud gap length<br />
statistics reveal a dominance of small cloud gaps, <strong>the</strong> assumption is ma<strong>de</strong>, that at least<br />
in probable cloud free regions <strong>the</strong> consecutive cloud free retrieval is only interrupted by<br />
small broken clouds. This assumption is supported by <strong>the</strong> mean cloud gap length being<br />
higher <strong>for</strong> cloud free regions and <strong>the</strong> total amount of cloud gaps being lower especially<br />
over continents. As [Kiemle et al., 2011] stated, a methane retrieval is also possible <strong>for</strong><br />
cloudy regions even though <strong>the</strong> integration length has to be increased. The next chapter<br />
will <strong>de</strong>al with this.
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