Schulz, M.; Thies, B.; Chang, S. & Bendix, J. (2014): <b>Automatic cloud top height determination in mountainous areas using a cost-effective time-lapse camera system </b>. <i>Atmospheric Measurement Techniques</i> <b>7</b>, 4185 - 4201.
Resource Description
Title:
Automatic cloud top height determination in mountainous areas using a cost-effective time-lapse camera system
email:
bendix <at> staff.uni-marburg.de
Deutschhausstraße 12
Room No. 02 A 48
35032 Marburg
Faculty of Geography
Germany
Abstract:
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.<br/>
