Spatiotemporal variation of cloud properties using seven-year geostationary observations over China

Clouds are important in regulating Earth’s radiation balance and hydrological cycles. Utilizing seven-Year geostationary observations, this study systematically investigates the Spatiotemporal variations of integrated cloud properties over China, focusing on cloud fraction, cloud top height, cloud top temperature, daytime cloud optical depth, and daytime cloud particle effective radius. The spatial distribution of cloud fraction reveals distinct contrasts, with Southwest provinces exhibiting significantly higher coverage (⪆ 0.7) compared to arid northwestern regions (⪅ 0.4). The frequency of broken clouds and overlapping clouds in the northwest region is significantly higher than that in the southeast region, while the frequency of warm water clouds and overlapping clouds in the south region is higher than that in the northwest region. Seasonal variations are also pronounced. Summer months show nationwide cloud fraction exceeding 0.5, while winter exhibits stark gradients and northern and western provinces drop below 0.3. daytime cloud optical depth displays inverse seasonal trends with daytime cloud particle effective radius, peaking in southern regions (⪆ 40) during mornings but declining to lower than 35 by noon.