Accuracy of Point and Line Measures of Boundary Layer Cloud Amount

Abstract

Many authors have used upward-looking instruments, such as a laser ceilometer, to estimate the cover of fair-weather cumuli, but little has been mentioned as to the accuracy of these measurements. Results are presented, using a simulated cloud field and a virtual aircraft, that show that sampling errors can be very large for averaging times commonly used with surface instruments. A set of empirical equations is found to provide an estimate of the errors associated with averaging time and earth cover. These relationships can be used to design observation strategies (averaging time or flight-leg length) that provide earth-cover estimates within desired error bounds. These results are used to guide a comparison between earth cover measured by an airborne upward-looking pyranometer and earth cover observed by airborne scientists in a research aircraft. In general, the agreement between these two methods is good.