CEOS EO HANDBOOK – MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENTS
Measurements > Atmosphere >
Atmospheric Temperature Fields >
Cloud base height


Measurement Definition*: Height of the bottom surface of the cloud - Physical unit: [ km ] - Accuracy unit: [ km ].
InstrumentStatus/
Accuracy
Instrument DescriptionMeasurement TechnologyTimeline
CALIOP
Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization
Operational
Two-wavelength, polarisation lidar capable of providing aerosol and cloud profiles and properties.n/a
CPR (CloudSat)
Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR)
Operational
+/-500 m
Primary goal to provide data needed to evaluate and improve the way clouds are represented in global climate models. Measures vertical profile of clouds.Cloud and precipitation radar
OLCI
Ocean and Land Colour Imager
Operational
Marine and land services.n/a
OLS
Operational Linescan System
Operational
Day and night cloud cover imagery.n/a
VIIRS
Visible/Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite
Operational
Global observations of land, ocean, and atmosphere parameters: cloud/weather imagery, sea-surface temperature, ocean colour, land surface vegetation indices.n/a
CPR (EarthCARE)
Cloud Profiling Radar (EarthCARE)
Being developed
Measurement of cloud properties, light precipitation, vertical motion.Cloud and precipitation radar
ATLID
ATmospheric LIDar
Approved
Derivation of cloud and aerosol properties - Measurement of molecular and particle backscatter in Rayleigh, co-polar and cross-polar Mie channels.n/a
* Description adapted from WMO.