Articles | Volume 7, issue 12
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-4185-2014
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-4185-2014
Research article
 | 
05 Dec 2014
Research article |  | 05 Dec 2014

Automatic cloud top height determination in mountainous areas using a cost-effective time-lapse camera system

H. M. Schulz, S.-C. Chang, B. Thies, and J. Bendix

Abstract. A new method is presented for the determination of cloud top heights using the footage of a time-lapse camera that is placed above a frequently occurring cloud layer in a mountain valley. Contact points between cloud tops and underlying terrain are automatically detected in the camera image based on differences in the brightness, texture and movement of cloudy and non-cloudy areas. The height of the detected cloud top positions is determined by comparison with a digital elevation model projected to the view of the camera. The technique has been validated using data about the cloud immersion of a second camera as well as via visual assessment. The validation shows a high detection quality, especially regarding the requirements for the validation of satellite cloud top retrieval algorithms.

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Short summary
A new method is presented for the determination of cloud top heights using the footage of a time-lapse camera that is placed above a frequently occurring cloud layer in a mountain valley. Contact points between cloud tops and underlying terrain are automatically detected in the camera image based on differences in the brightness, texture and movement of cloudy and non-cloudy areas. The height of the detected cloud top positions is determined by comparison with a digital elevation model project.