1. A method of characterizing atmospheric clouds in three dimensions from retrieval on satellite meteorological data, comprising the steps of: receiving satellite electro-optical, infrared, and microwave radiance data of a view, the view having a location and time information; determining cloud top heights of clouds in the view based on the electro-optical and infrared radiance data and determining moisture profiles of the view based on the microwave radiance data; and retrieving cloud base heights of clouds in the view based on the moisture profiles and the cloud top heights.