The synergy of the MISR cloud masks for global cloud climatology

The Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) currently provides three independently derived cloud mask products at 1.1 km spatial resolution. The Radiometric Camera-by-camera Cloud Mask (RCCM) is terrain-referenced and calculated for each of the nine MISR cameras, the Stereoscopically Derived Cloud Mask (SDCM) is feature-projected and uses radiances from one pair of the MISR cameras, and the Angular Signature Cloud Mask (ASCM) uses a band-differenced angular signature based on the two most oblique cameras viewing forward scattering radiation. While each mask has been extensively validated, each having its own strengths and weaknesses, there has been no effort to combine the strengths of all of the masks to create a single consensus product. We present an algorithm which addresses the problem and produces a so called "consensus cloud mask" of improved performance, and elaborate on further cloud climatology applications.