Dataset on cloud dynamics over Singapore island (1 deg N of equator)

Clouds is an intermediary in the hydrology cycle, and is a temporary reservoir of water in the atmosphere. Shaped and moved by the wind, its many incarnations from cirrus to cumulonimbus clouds provide vital signs of the dynamic balance between land and atmosphere and that between sea and air. For example, a large towering cumulonimbus that rise 30 km into the stratosphere means that rain is likely in the next couple of hours. Hence, information on cloud formation and movement dynamics when coupled with other meteorology parameters such as wind direction and speed, provide important data for weather forecasting and long range understanding of how climate change is influencing local weather through cloud formation or dissipation. Viewed differently, this reservoir of water in air holds important information on how local weather would behave in the short, medium, and sometimes long term. Currently, information on cloud cover and movement is gained through a multitude of earth sensing satellites on polar orbits circling the planet. Though useful, top down infrared sensing and optical pictures obtained by these satellite only provide partial view of cloud dynamics; specifically, there is little knowledge on the type of cloud imaged, its altitude and volume – all of which crucial to understanding atmospheric dynamics as well as weather forecasting and climate modeling. Hence, a thought came to me to provide, through a preprint, imagery data on cloud type and volume using images from a 5 megapixel smartphone camera, for researchers to assess cloud dynamics in Singapore. Tropical climes such as Singapore and its proximity to the equator meant that it is in the relatively stable atmospheric zone 10^o N and S of the equator (also known as the intertropical convergence zone or doldrums). While the atmosphere is more stable than those in subtropical or temperate zones, the amount of water in air stored as clouds have major implications for understanding how climate change would manifest its effect near the equator. Specifically, reduced cloud coverage together with warmer weather and windier days meant that droughts may be more frequent in tropical climates where intense rainfall over short duration on a consistent basis is the previous norm. It is with the acknowledged gap in understanding from weather satellites that NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Agency of U.S.) conducted periodic sampling and observation missions using aircraft and tap on other earth observing satellites such as Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) satellite to close the hydrology loop. Additional data can also come from photos of clouds taken by cameras on mobile devices and digital cameras. Unique in perspective and offering a glimpse of altitude (looking from the ground up) not available to high speed aircraft and earth observation satellites, these photos only lack in the area of location and duration coverage. Thus, this dataset preprint is a tiny contribution to understanding cloud dynamics around Singapore, on which climate researchers and meteorologists could hopefully glean new knowledge and understanding.