Retrieval of cloud spherical albedo from top-of-atmosphere reflectance measurements performed at a single observation angle

Abstract. The paper is aimed to the derivation of the simple analytical relationship between the cloud spherical albedo and the cloud reflection function in the visible. The relationship obtained can be used for the retrieval of the spherical albedo from backscattered solar light measurements performed by radiometers on geostationary and polar orbiting satellites. The example of the application of the technique to MODIS data is shown.