The atlas was prepared from data acquired during the period January 1, 1967, through December 31, 1970. Picture signals were computer processed to prepare hemispheric charts of monthly, seasonal, semiannual, and annual charts of relative cloud cover, in octas, over both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Similar presentations of tropical cloudiness are included. This atlas is one of the first attempts to use satellite data in the preparation of a climatology of daytime cloudiness over the globe. (Author).

Objective methods and their accuracies for deriving current and six-hour forecasts of cloud amount and ceiling from satellite data are presented. Data from the visible and IR window bands were tested to develop relationships. The IR data did not significantly improve the results. The visible data were carefully calibrated, navigated, and normalized for solar elevation and bidirectional reflectance. Cloud motions were also used for the six-hour forecasts. The data were reduced to values of average brightness and its standard deviation over 1/2 deg by 1/2 deg areas before analysis. RMSE of current cloud amounts (on a scale of 0 to 1) are about 0.25 and for six hours later about 0.35. The occurrence of a ceiling/no ceiling was specified correctly 80% and 70% of the time at zero and six hours, respectively. Various methods are shown for minimization of ceiling errors over different height ranges. In general, RMSE of specified and forecast ceilings range from 4000 to 6000 ft at low levels to 9000 to 10,000 ft at mid and high levels. (Author).

Originally published in 1974, was a pioneering study which summarized, within the pre-existing framework of atmospheric knowledge, the more significant findings that emerged from the first decade of climatological analyses of meteorological satellite data. It shows how these data complement and extend the traditional coverage of climatology. The book draws together in one volume research findings which were not previously available in book form and which significantly improve the understanding of climate, especially in regions that were conventionally data-remote.

This report compares cloud-cover observations made by ground observers and relative cloud-cover estimates determined from satellite-measured brightness values. Comparisons are made when each type of cloud (9 low type, 9 middle type, and 9 high type) are found alone and also with various combinations taken over the China mainland and portions of Southeast Asia. Satellite observations from the ESSA and ITOS series of satellites are used. Both tabulated and graphical presentations of the results are included along with the author's comments on the investigative procedures and findings.