Cloud optical depth measurements with sun-photometer in Camaguey, Cuba

One year of Cloud Optical Depth (COD) measurements obtained with the radiometer (sun-photometer Cimel CE - 318), in Camaguey, Cuba, from June 2010 to May 2011, are presented. As the first step an evaluation method is proposed, in order to confirm that a cloud was measured. This method is based on the complementary cloud information derived from the actinometrical observations. In the second step of the work, the statistical results from the first year of the COD measurements in Camaguey were analyzed. The results show the high quality of COD measurements at Camaguey. The analysis of the COD frequency showed two peaks at the intervals centered in 2.5 and 17.5. Similar behavior occurred each month. The COD mean value for the entire period was 24.8, with a standard deviation of 31.7. The mean monthly minimum and maximum value of COD occurred in December, 2010 and May, 2011, respectively. The diurnal cycle of the mean hourly COD values showed an increase in the afternoon hours. At the same time, the number of measured cases decreased. There was correspondence between the COD data obtained with sun-photometer and CALIOP lidar, for the COD values below 5. The results showed in this paper constitute the first report of such measurements in Cuba.