Cloudiness retrieved from All-Sky camera and MSG satellite over Reunion Island and Antananarivo Madagascar

Abstract. To gain a deeper understanding of cloud variability over the Southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO) region, various measurement techniques can be used. Cloud data focused on two main sites (Antananarivo, Madagascar, and Reunion Island) were collected over nearly three years (September 2019 to June 2022) using ground-based all-sky camera and Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellite imagery. This study primarily examined cloud fraction, although additional analysis based on cloud types is also needed. Two image processing algorithms were used to estimate cloud fraction by analyzing the camera images: one provided by the manufacturer Reuniwatt, and the other, Elifan, initially developed by CNRS. Their performance was compared to assess their relative strengths. Additionally, comparisons with MSG satellite data were carried out to ensure consistency and evaluate the complementarity of ground-based and satellite observations. Despite differences in methodology, the various data sources showed strong agreement. The results indicate that in Antananarivo, during the dry season, a high morning cloud fraction (∼50 %) is typically observed, which gradually decreases throughout the day. In the wet season (December to April), cloud fraction varies between approximately 30 % and 60 %, with reduced cloudiness observed around midday in October and November. In contrast, in Saint-Denis, Reunion, skies are generally clear in the morning but become increasingly cloudy as the day progresses, reaching up to 80 % cloud fraction during the wet season and around 60 % during the dry season.