CASCCAD: Cumulus And Stratocumulus Cloudsat-CAlipso Dataset

<p>In these two&nbsp;datasets, we document spatial distributions and profiles of stratocumulus (Sc) and cumulus (Cu) clouds on a global scale.</p> <p>To this end, we design an original discrimination algorithm (DA) that distinguishes Sc and Cu based on three observable cloud-properties: cloud top height (CTH), horizontal cloud fraction (HCF) and vertical cloud fraction variability (VCF). These simple criteria are sufficient to characterize the distinctive shape of Cu, which have a limited horizontal extent and highly variable CTH as opposed to Sc, which cover larger areas and have a small and stable geometrical thickness. The DA is utilized on instantaneous profiles of active-sensor Cloud-Aerosols Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO), specifically the&nbsp;General Circulation Model - Oriented CALIPSO Cloud Product (CALIPSO-GOCCP), and&nbsp;CloudSat-CALIPSO combined observations.</p> <p>By documenting the geographical distribution of Sc and Cu clouds, these datasets make it possible to evaluate the shallow convection (Cu type) and boundary layer (Sc type) clouds in state-of-the art climate models, which are typically generated by distinct parametrizations.</p>