Validation and comparison of cloud properties retrieved from passive satellites over the Southern Ocean

Kurup, Arathy A.; Poulsen, Caroline; Siems, Steven T.; Robbins, Daniel J. V.

doi:10.5194/amt-19-1487-2026

Articles | Volume 19, issue 4

https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-1487-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-1487-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 19, issue 4

Research article

|

27 Feb 2026

Research article |

| 27 Feb 2026

Validation and comparison of cloud properties retrieved from passive satellites over the Southern Ocean

Arathy A. Kurup, Caroline Poulsen, Steven T. Siems, and Daniel J. V. Robbins

Data sets

CLDPROP_M3_MODIS_Aqua - MODIS/Aqua Cloud Properties Level 3 monthly, 1x1 degree grid S. Platnick et al. https://doi.org/10.5067/MODIS/CLDPROP_M3_MODIS_AQUA.011

MODIS Atmosphere L2 Cloud Product (06_L2), NASA MODIS Adaptive Processing System S. Platnick et al. https://doi.org/10.5067/MODIS/MYD06_L2.061

CLARA-A3: CM SAF cLoud, Albedo and surface RAdiation dataset from AVHRR data - Edition 3 Karl-Göran Karlsson et al. https://doi.org/10.5676/EUM_SAF_CM/CLARA_AVHRR/V003

CALIPSO Lidar Level 3 Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) Cloud, Standard V1-00 NASA/LARC/SD/ASDC https://doi.org/10.5067/CALIOP/CALIPSO/LID_L3_GEWEX_Cloud-Standard-V1-00

Short summary

Southern Ocean (SO) clouds are crucial in defining the Earth's radiation budget. They are primarily observed by satellites, due to a lack of surface observations. This study validated cloud top height and cloud mask and compared the microphysics products from 3 satellite cloud datasets over the SO. The study revealed significant differences in cloud property retrievals between the sensors. Multilayer clouds play a major role in the differences when validated with active satellite measurements.