Fractality in broken clouds and the scan geometry of new satellite-borne infrared sensors

Cloud scenes observed by the Advanced Visible and Near-Infrared Radiometer on board the Japanese polar platform Advanced Earth Observing Satellite hav e been analysed to check the validity of power laws extending from the leng th scale of a few metres to several kilometers. The kind of scaling law we have investigated pertains to cloud morphology and may have important impli cations for the design of the scan geometry of new satellite-borne infrared sensors aimed at improving the density of clear soundings in frontal syste ms.