CLANN: Cloud amount neural network for estimating 3D cloud from geostationary satellite imager

Accurate information on cloud amount vertical structure is crucial for weather monitoring and understanding climate systems. Active sensors from satellites can provide three-dimensional (3D) cloud structure but with limited geographical coverage, passive sensors from satellites have expanded observation coverage but with limited capability on profiling the clouds. Combing active and passive observations from satellites, together with atmospheric reanalysis data, this study proposes a machine learning approach (CLANN, CLoud Amount Neural Network) to construct three-dimensional (3D) cloud amounts at passive observational coverage. Independent validation is conducted for cloud amount estimates derived from combined data of the Advanced Geostationary Radiation Imager (AGRI) onboard Fengyun-4 A and ERA5 using CALIPSO/CALIOP product as reference. The results indicate notable correlations (Pearson's r = 0.73). The cloud-amount-weighted height showed a high consistency in terms of height positioning between CLANN estimations and CALIOP data, with an RMSE of 1.88 km and a Pearson's r of 0.92. Key features such as water vapor band brightness temperature and upper-layer temperature significantly enhanced model accuracy, as revealed by permutation importance analysis. Sensitivity tests highlighted the critical role of the 1.375 μm band in cirrus altitude detection, justifying the model's reliance on daytime observations. Additionally, the 3D statistical results from CLANN in 2019 reveal the seasonal variation details of cloud distribution, further demonstrating its application value in climate analysis. [Display omitted] •Developed CLANN, a machine learning model for constructing 3D cloud amounts.•Key features enhance CLANN's accuracy, shown via sensitivity tests.•CLANN reveals detailed seasonal variations of 3D cloud distribution.