Abstract:We firstly derive the algorithm to retrieve the true cloud location and cloud top height by use of the FY2 stereoscopic observation, and the algorithm to compute the apparent cloud parallax from the true cloud location and its cloud top height. Based on the geostationary satellite stereoscopic algorithm, a simulation is performed on the distribution feature of the apparent cloud parallax and the relationship between the apparent cloud parallax and the cloud top height under two cases of FY2 stereoscopic observation. The analysis shows that the linear model may cause larger errors that cannot be ignored near the conjugate region edge. We accordingly propose a nonlinear cloud height retrieval algorithm which could be used on the full region of stereoscopic observation. The average height resolution is about 1.28 km for 86.5E/104.5E and 0.93 km for 86.5E/112E, when the spatial resolution of the applied data are both 0.01 degree. The combination of 86.5E/112E has better height resolution than 86.5E/104.5E. A stereo cloud height retrieval test is performed to a case from the northwest Pacific and the test results are compared with the CTH observed by Cloudsat CPR microwave radar.