Identification of atmospheric gravity waves in clouds over a water surface from MODIS imagery

Abstract

We suggest an algorithm for identification of manifestations of atmospheric gravity waves in clouds over a water surface in MODIS images with a spatial resolution of 1000 m. The algorithm is based on the Viola–Jones method. The regions of the world where these phenomena are the most frequent are identified. Repeatability of the manifestations of atmospheric gravity waves in clouds throughout a year is estimated over the coasts of the Arabian Peninsula and Australia, Mozambique Channel, and the Kurile Islands. The cloud types formed by atmospheric gravity waves are determined. The results of their identification in full-sized MODIS images of different regions of the planet are discussed.