Whole Sky Infrared Remote Sensing of Cloud

Clouds are important factors in weather and climate change. Cloud amount, type and height are measured by means of both visual observation on ground and satellites ever before. In recent years, instruments of measuring clouds on ground have been developed. This paper introduces our progress on ground based whole sky infrared remote sensing of cloud. Some results are given. A method for determining clear sky radiance threshold was suggested, and cloud identification combined threshold method with texture method was discussed. An algorithm retrieving cloud base height from downwelling infrared radiance was suggested. Cloud classification of ground based whole sky cloud images was discussed. Structural features are better than texture features in classifying clouds.