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Cloud cover changes over Indian subcontinent using INSAT-3D during the recent decade (2014-2023)
Shivali Verma1, M V Ramana1, Rabindrakumar Nayak1
1Earth and Climate Sciences Area, National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
The Science of the Total Environment
|September 13, 2025
Summary
Long-term satellite data reveals increasing cloud cover over Indian land and oceans, but a slight overall decline when averaged. Daytime clouds are decreasing while nighttime clouds are increasing, impacting climate variability.
Area of Science:
- Climate Science
- Atmospheric Science
- Remote Sensing
Background:
- Understanding long-term cloud cover changes is crucial for assessing climate change impacts.
- The Indian geostationary satellite INSAT-3D provides continuous monitoring essential for capturing these changes.
- A knowledge gap exists regarding long-term cloud trends and their regional implications over the Indian subcontinent.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spatial and temporal trends in cloud cover fraction over the Indian region using a decadal assessment.
- To address the knowledge gap in understanding long-term cloud dynamics and their regional implications.
- To analyze trends in daily, daytime, and nighttime cloud cover fractions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized decadal (2014-2023) cloud cover fraction data from the Indian geostationary satellite INSAT-3D.
- Validated INSAT-3D cloud cover fraction against ground-based All Sky Imager observations.
- Analyzed annual daily mean, daytime, and nighttime cloud cover fraction trends over land and oceanic regions.
Main Results:
- INSAT-3D data showed complete agreement with ground-based observations for cloudy conditions, with a 3% margin of error.
- Annual daily mean cloud cover fraction increased by 0.3% yr-1 over land and 0.2%-0.6% yr-1 over adjacent oceans.
- An overall decline of -0.05% yr-1 was observed when averaged across the Indian subcontinent and surrounding oceans.
- Daytime cloud cover fraction decreased by -3% yr-1, while nighttime cloud cover fraction increased by 1.5% yr-1.
Conclusions:
- The study highlights significant regional variations in cloud cover trends over the Indian subcontinent and surrounding oceans.
- The asymmetric diurnal cycle in cloud cover suggests potential impacts on cloud radiative effects and surface temperatures.
- Continuous satellite-based cloud monitoring is vital for understanding climate variability and the effects of climate change in the region.
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