GROUND-BASED AND SATELLITE-OBSERVATIONS OF CLOUD FIELDS IN THE NETHERLANDS

A study is performed on the combination of ground-based and satellite observations for the derivation of cloud properties. Ground-based meas urements from a lidar ceilometer and an infrared radiometer were combi ned with measurements of the NOAA Advanced Very High Resolution Radiom eter and Meteosat satellite instruments. Two case studies are presente d: a case with streets of fair weather cumuli and a case with a weak c old front involving cumulus, stratus, and cirrus clouds. From the comb ination of ground-based and satellite observations, a much better desc ription of the cloud field geometry, cloud base, and cloud top can be obtained than with satellite or gound-based observations alone. The co mbination of satellite retrievals and lidar-ceilometer measurements is promising. This concept is widely applicable because lidar ceilometer s are available on airports all over the world and the used infrared s ensors are relatively cheap and can easily be installed. This opens th e way for a much improved automatic detection of clouds and their prop erties.