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- Title
Classification and dynamics of tropical clouds by their fractal dimension.
- Authors
Batista‐Tomás, A. R.; Díaz, O.; Batista‐Leyva, A. J.; Altshuler, E.
- Abstract
The fractal dimension estimated as the area--perimeter relation constitutes a tool for the characterization of clouds. In this article, we apply it for the first time to study the separation of cirrus and cumulonimbus in the Caribbean area. Based on satellite data, we show that the two types can be differentiated by their area--perimeter ratio as follows: DCi =1.37±0.02 for cirrus, and DCb =1.18±0.05 for cumulonimbus. We also show that the 'global' area--perimeter ratio can be used to determine the composition of the cloud field. Moreover, we are able to quantify, through the area--perimeter ratio, the transformation of cumulonimbus into cirrus. Our findings have potential applications for the automatic classification of clouds, and for the understanding of their formation processes.
- Subjects
CARIBBEAN; FRACTAL dimensions; CIRRUS clouds; CUMULONIMBUS; GLOBAL warming
- Publication
Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 2016, Vol 142, Issue 695, Part B, p983
- ISSN
0035-9009
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/qj.2699