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A non-linear iterative physical algorithm that simultaneously retrieves atmospheric temperature, water vapour distribution and surface skin temperature from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) longwave infrared radiances is presented. The retrieval algorithm uses clear-sky radiances measured by MODIS in Taiwan Strait for both day and night, and shows that it is capable of retrieving medium-scale atmospheric temperature and water vapour. Sea surface temperature is retrieved with an accuracy similar to that achieved by MOD07 products. Evaluation of retrieval total precipitable water vapour (TPW) is performed by comparisons with retrievals from MOD07 products and data from a ground-based sunphotometer. These show that MODIS retrieval of TPW, in general, agrees with other sounder retrievals of TPW. The total totals index (TTI) distribution retrieved from MODIS data is similar to that from MOD07 products.