Evaluation of the operational MODIS cloud mask product for detecting cirrus clouds

Nguyen Huu, Żaneta; Kotarba, Andrzej Z.; Wypych, Agnieszka

doi:10.5194/amt-18-3897-2025

Articles | Volume 18, issue 16

https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-3897-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-3897-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 18, issue 16

Research article

|

18 Aug 2025

Research article |

| 18 Aug 2025

Evaluation of the operational MODIS cloud mask product for detecting cirrus clouds

Żaneta Nguyen Huu, Andrzej Z. Kotarba, and Agnieszka Wypych

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More articles (57)

Short summary

Clouds affect Earth's energy balance, with high-altitude cirrus clouds contributing to atmospheric warming. While active satellite sensors are the most accurate for detecting cirrus clouds, they are not ideal for long-term studies. This study compares Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) data, testing six MODIS methods, one MODIS-based test, and two International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) tests. The all tests consolidation (ATC) was the most effective, achieving 72.98 % accuracy during daytime and 59.50 % at night, making it relatively accurate for creating a cirrus mask.