CERES measures both solar-reflected and Earth-emitted radiation from the top of the atmosphere to the surface. It also determines cloud properties including the amount, height, thickness, particle size, and phase of clouds using simultaneous measurements by other instruments. These measurements are critical for understanding cloud-radiation climate change and improving the prediction of global warming using climate models. CERES is flying, or will fly, on the Tropical Rainfall Monitoring Mission (TRMM), Terra, and EOS-PM.
nbsp;NASA Earth Observatory