Estimation of cloud height using ground-based stereophotography: methods, error analysis, and validation

Maksim S. Andreev; Alexey I. Chulichkov; Aleksander S. Emilenko; Andrey P. Medvedev; Oleg V. Postylyakov

doi:10.1117/12.2069800

20 November 2014 Estimation of cloud height using ground-based stereophotography: methods, error analysis, and validation

Maksim S. Andreev, Alexey I. Chulichkov, Aleksander S. Emilenko, Andrey P. Medvedev, Oleg V. Postylyakov

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9259, Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere, Clouds, and Precipitation V; 92590N (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2069800
Event: SPIE Asia-Pacific Remote Sensing, 2014, Beijing, China

Abstract

Retrieval errors of the atmospheric composition using optical methods (DOAS et al.) are under the determining influence of the cloudiness during the measurements. If there is information about the clouds, the optical model of the atmosphere used to interpret the measurements can be adjusted, and the retrieval errors are reduced. For the reconstruction of the parameters of clouds a method was developed based on taking pictures of the sky by a pair of digital photocameras and subsequent processing of the obtained sequence of stereo frames by a method of morphological analysis of images. Since the directions of the optical axes of the cameras are not exactly known, the calibration of the direction of sight of the cameras was conducted at the first stage using the photographs of the stars in the night sky. At the second stage, the relative shift of the image of the cloud fragment on the second frame of the pair was calculated. Stereo pairs obtained by simultaneous photography, allowed us to estimate the height of cloud. The report describes a mathematical model of measurement, pose and solve the problem of calibration of direction of sight of the cameras, describes methods of combining of image fragments by morphological method, the problem of estimating cloud height and speed of their movement is formulated and solved. The examples of evaluations in a real photo are analyzed and validated by the way of comparing with the results of measurement by laser rangefinder.

Citation Download Citation

Maksim S. Andreev, Alexey I. Chulichkov, Aleksander S. Emilenko, Andrey P. Medvedev, and Oleg V. Postylyakov "Estimation of cloud height using ground-based stereophotography: methods, error analysis, and validation", Proc. SPIE 9259, Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere, Clouds, and Precipitation V, 92590N (20 November 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2069800

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available