Ice particle morphology and microphysical properties of cirrus clouds inferred from combined CALIOP-IIR measurements

2017 ◽  
Vol 122 (8) ◽  
pp. 4440-4462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masanori Saito ◽  
Hironobu Iwabuchi ◽  
Ping Yang ◽  
Guanglin Tang ◽  
Michael D. King ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particle Morphology ◽  
Cirrus Clouds ◽  
Microphysical Properties

Dynamic Processes in Cirrus Clouds: Concepts and Models

Cirrus ◽  
2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
David O’C. Starr ◽  
Markus Quante
Keyword(s):  
Cirrus Clouds ◽  
Radiative Properties ◽  
Cirrus Cloud ◽  
Early Model ◽  
Minimum Requirement ◽  
Microphysical Properties ◽  
Cloud Properties ◽  
Cloud Models ◽  
New Concepts

Advancement in the understanding of cirrus clouds and their life cycle comes through symbiotic use of models, observations, and related concepts (fig. 18.1). Models of cirrus clouds represent an integration of our knowledge of cirrus cloud properties and processes. They provide a capacity to extend knowledge and enhance understanding in ways that complement existing observational capabilities. Models can be used to develop new theories, such as parameterizations, and focus science issues and observational requirements and developments. For example, early model results of Starr and Cox (1985a) and Starr (1987b) predicted that fine cellular structure (~lkm or less) would be found in the upper part of extended stratiform cirrus clouds. This prediction was confirmed when high-frequency sensors were deployed both for active remote sensing (Sassen et al. 1990a, 1995) and later for in-situ measurements (Quante and Brown 1992; Gultepe et al. 1995; Quante et al. 1996). Sampling rates of 10Hz, or better, are now accepted as a minimum requirement for resolving cirrus cloud internal structure and circulation where 1-Hz or coarser measurements were previously used. Similarly, discrepancies between observed cloud radiative properties and calculations (theory) based on corresponding in-situ observations of cloud microphysical properties (Sassen et al. 1990b) led to the development of improved observing capabilities for small ice crystals (Arnott et al. 1994; Miloshevich and Heymsfield 1997; Lawson et al. 1998). Such sensors are now regarded as part of the standard complement when doing in-situ microphysical measurements in cirrus. At the same time, observations are absolutely essential in developing and evaluating cloud models. No cloud modeler wants to apply a model or theory too far beyond the limits of what can be observationally confirmed, at least in gross terms. The third aspect of this triad is concepts. Although models and observations can lead to predictions or diagnosis of unexpected relationships, they are each limited by the concepts that were used in their design and/or implementation. In the end, new concepts arising from analogy to other phenomena and/or from synergistic integration of existing knowledge can lead to new understanding, new models, new instruments, and new sampling strategies (fig. 18.1). Chapter 17 focuses on observations of internal cloud circulation and structure.

Ground-based Remote Sensing of Cirrus Clouds

Cirrus ◽  
2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Sassen ◽  
Gerald Mace
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Multispectral Imaging ◽  
Cirrus Clouds ◽  
Radiative Energy ◽  
Radiation Balance ◽  
Cirrus Cloud ◽  
Microphysical Properties ◽  
Research Aircraft ◽  
Cloud Modeling

Cirrus clouds have only recently been recognized as having a significant influence on weather and climate through their impact on the radiative energy budget of the atmosphere. In addition, the unique difficulties presented by the study of cirrus put them on the “back burner” of atmospheric research for much of the twentieth century. Foremost, because they inhabit the frigid upper troposphere, their inaccessibility has hampered intensive research. Other factors have included a lack of in situ instrumentation to effectively sample the clouds and environment, and basic uncertainties in the underlying physics of ice cloud formation, growth, and maintenance. Cloud systems that produced precipitation, severe weather, or hazards to aviation were deemed more worthy of research support until the mid- 1980s. Beginning at this time, however, major field research programs such as the First ISCCP (International Satellite Cloud Climatology Program) Regional Experiment (FIRE; Cox et al. 1987), International Cirrus Experiment (ICE; Raschke et al. 1990), Experimental Cloud Lidar Pilot Study (ECLIPS; Platt et al. 1994), and the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program (Stokes and Schwartz 1994) have concentrated on cirrus cloud research, relying heavily on ground-based remote sensing observations combined with research aircraft. What has caused this change in research emphasis is an appreciation for the potentially significant role that cirrus play in maintaining the radiation balance of the earth-atmosphere system (Liou 1986). As climate change issues were treated more seriously, it was recognized that the effects, or feedbacks, of extensive high-level ice clouds in response to global warming could be pivotal. This fortunately came at a time when new generations of meteorological instrumentation were becoming available. Beginning in the early 1970s, major advancements were made in the fields of numerical cloud modeling and cloud measurements using aircraft probes, satellite multispectral imaging, and remote sensing with lidar, short-wavelength radar, and radiometers, all greatly facilitating cirrus research. Each of these experimental approaches have their advantages and drawbacks, and it should also be noted that a successful cloud modeling effort relies on field data for establishing boundary conditions and providing case studies for validation. Although the technologies created for in situ aircraft measurements can clearly provide unique knowledge of cirrus cloud thermodynamic and microphysical properties (Dowling and Radke 1990), available probes may suffer from limitations in their response to the wide range of cirrus particles and actually sample a rather small volume of cloud during any mission.

Mid-latitude and Tropical Cirrus: Microphysical Properties

Cirrus ◽  
2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Heymsfield ◽  
Greg M. McFarquhar
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Cirrus Clouds ◽  
Ice Crystals ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Horizontal Wind ◽  
Cloud Type ◽  
Fall Velocity ◽  
Upper Troposphere ◽  
Vertical Extent ◽  
Microphysical Properties

Cirrus, a principal cloud type that forms at low temperatures in the upper troposphere, is composed almost always of ice crystals (Heymsfield and Miloshevich 1989) and on average cover about 20% of the earth's surface (Hartmann et al. 1992). The purpose of this chapter is to characterize the microphysical properties of cirrus clouds. The Glossary of Meteorology (Huschke 1970) defines cirrus clouds as detached clouds in the form of white, delicate filaments, or white or mostly white patches, which are composed of ice crystals. This cloud type forms primarily in the upper troposphere, above about 8km (25,000 feet), where temperatures are generally below -30° C. There are a number of types of cirrus clouds, with the most frequent ones occurring in layers or sheets with horizontal dimensions of hundreds or even thousands of kilometers. Because horizontal dimensions are much greater than vertical extent, this particular type of cirrus cloud is called cirrostratus. Cirrus can also form in a patchy or tufted shape, when the ice crystals are large enough to acquire an appreciable fall velocity (the rate at which ice crystals fall in the vertical) so that trails of considerable vertical extent may form. These trails curve irregularly or slant, sometimes with a commalike shape, as a result of changes in the horizontal wind velocity with height and variations in the fall velocity of the ice crystals. A wispy, layered cloud that forms at the top of a cumulonimbus cloud, termed an “anvil” because of its shape, is a cirrus that consists essentially of ice debris which spreads outward from the convective parts of the storm. Anvils do not include the white, dense portions of thunderstorms or the active convective column. Anvils can spread to form large, widespread cloud layers. Tropical cirrus clouds are thought to arise primarily from cumulonimbus clouds. Unlike the thin, wispy cirrus typifying mid-latitudes, the high altitudes and extensive lateral and vertical development that often characterize tropical cirrus impose substantial large-scale radiative effects in the atmosphere and at the earth's surface (Hartmann et al. 1992; Collins et al. 1996). The cirrus-like low-level ice clouds and ice fogs of the Arctic are not considered cirrus.

scholarly journals First Look at the Occurrence of Horizontally Oriented Ice Crystals over Summit, Greenland

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Cole ◽  
Ryan R. Neely III. ◽  
Robert A. Stillwell
Keyword(s):  
Ground Level ◽  
Cirrus Clouds ◽  
Ice Crystals ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
Microphysical Properties ◽  
Stratiform Clouds ◽  
Monthly Changes ◽  
Microphysical Processes ◽  
Monthly Variations

Abstract. The microphysical properties of clouds play a significant role in determining their radiative effect; one of these properties is the orientation of ice crystals. A source of error in current microphysical retrievals and model simulations is the assumption that clouds are composed of only randomly oriented ice crystals (ROIC). This assumption is frequently not true, as evidenced by optical phenomena such as parhelia (commonly referred to as sundogs). Here, observations from the Cloud, Aerosol and Polarization Backscatter Lidar (CAPABL) at Summit, Greenland are utilized along with instruments that are part of the Integrated Characterization of Energy, Clouds, Atmospheric state and Precipitation at Summit (ICECAPS) project in order to determine when, where and under what conditions horizontally oriented ice crystals (HOIC) occur at Summit, Greenland. Between July 2015 and May 2016, HOIC are observed on 86 days of the 335-day study. HOIC occurred within stratiform clouds on 48 days, in precipitation on 32 days and in cirrus clouds on 14 days. Analysis of all of the cases found that, on average, in comparison to ROIC, HOIC occur at higher temperatures, higher wind speeds and lower heights above ground level. Differences were also present in the relative humidities (RHs) at which HOIC and ROIC occurred in stratiform clouds and precipitation but not in cirrus clouds. Analysis over the whole study period revealed monthly variations in the abundance of HOIC with the number of detections peaking in April and October. Monthly changes were also present in the number of days containing HOIC. The results presented here aim to be the first step towards a comprehensive climatology and understanding of the microphysical processes that lead to the formation of HOIC at Summit, Greenland.

scholarly journals UV Raman lidar measurements of relative humidity for the characterization of cirrus cloud microphysical properties

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (22) ◽  
pp. 8799-8811 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Di Girolamo ◽  
D. Summa ◽  
R.-F. Lin ◽  
T. Maestri ◽  
R. Rizzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Cloud Model ◽  
Cirrus Clouds ◽  
Cloud Layer ◽  
Cirrus Cloud ◽  
Raman Lidar ◽  
Heating Rates ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Microphysical Properties ◽  
Lidar Measurements

Abstract. Raman lidar measurements performed in Potenza by the Raman lidar system BASIL in the presence of cirrus clouds are discussed. Measurements were performed on 6 September 2004 in the frame of the Italian phase of the EAQUATE Experiment. The major feature of BASIL is represented by its capability to perform high-resolution and accurate measurements of atmospheric temperature and water vapour, and consequently relative humidity, both in daytime and night-time, based on the application of the rotational and vibrational Raman lidar techniques in the UV. BASIL is also capable to provide measurements of the particle backscatter and extinction coefficient, and consequently lidar ratio (at the time of these measurements, only at one wavelength), which are fundamental to infer geometrical and microphysical properties of clouds. A case study is discussed in order to assess the capability of Raman lidars to measure humidity in presence of cirrus clouds, both below and inside the cloud. While air inside the cloud layers is observed to be always under-saturated with respect to water, both ice super-saturation and under-saturation conditions are found inside these clouds. Upper tropospheric moistening is observed below the lower cloud layer. The synergic use of the data derived from the ground based Raman Lidar and of spectral radiances measured by the NAST-I Airborne Spectrometer allows the determination of the temporal evolution of the atmospheric cooling/heating rates due to the presence of the cirrus cloud. Lidar measurements beneath the cirrus cloud layer have been interpreted using a 1-D cirrus cloud model with explicit microphysics. The 1-D simulations indicate that sedimentation-moistening has contributed significantly to the moist anomaly, but other mechanisms are also contributing. This result supports the hypothesis that the observed mid-tropospheric humidification is a real feature which is strongly influenced by the sublimation of precipitating ice crystals. Results illustrated in this study demonstrate that Raman lidars, like the one used in this study, can resolve the spatial and temporal scales required for the study of cirrus cloud microphysical processes and appear sensitive enough to reveal and quantify upper tropospheric humidification associated with cirrus cloud sublimation.

scholarly journals Subvisible cirrus clouds – a dynamical system approach

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. J. Spreitzer ◽  
M. P. Marschalik ◽  
P. Spichtinger
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Model ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Complex Model ◽  
Cirrus Clouds ◽  
Diffusional Growth ◽  
Ice Clouds ◽  
Formation Pathway ◽  
Microphysical Properties ◽  
Tropopause Region ◽  
Homogeneous Freezing

Abstract. Ice clouds, so-called cirrus clouds, occur very frequently in the tropopause region. A special class are subvisible cirrus clouds with an optical depth lower than 0.03. Obviously, the ice crystal number concentration of these clouds is very low. The dominant pathway for these clouds is not known well. It is often assumed that heterogeneous nucleation at solid aerosol particles is the preferred mechanism although homogeneous freezing of aqueous solution droplets might be possible. For investigating subvisible cirrus clouds as formed by homogeneous freezing we develop a simple analytical cloud model from first principles; the model consists of a three dimensional set of ordinary differential equations, including the relevant processes as ice nucleation, diffusional growth and sedimentation, respectively. The model is integrated numerically and is investigated using theory of dynamical systems. We found two different states for the long-term behaviour of subvisible cirrus clouds, i.e. an attractor case and a limit cycle scenario. The transition between the states constitutes a Hopf bifurcation and is determined by environmental conditions as vertical updraughts and temperature. In both cases, the microphysical properties of the simulated clouds agree reasonably well with simulations using a complex model, with former analytical studies and with observations of subvisible cirrus. In addition, the model can also be used for explaining complex model simulations close to the bifurcation qualitatively. Finally, the results indicate that homogeneous nucleation might be a possible formation pathway for subvisible cirrus clouds.

scholarly journals Cirrus clouds in convective outflow during the HIBISCUS campaign

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 6737-6765
Author(s):  
F. Fierli ◽  
G. Di Donfrancesco ◽  
F. Cairo ◽  
M. Zampieri ◽  
E. Orlandi
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Trajectory Analysis ◽  
Cirrus Clouds ◽  
Formation Processes ◽  
Mesoscale Variability ◽  
Upper Troposphere ◽  
Microphysical Properties ◽  
Marked Variability ◽  
Stratospheric Balloon ◽  
Mesoscale Simulations

Abstract. Light-weight microlidar measurements were taken on-board a stratospheric balloon during the HIBISCUS 2004 campaign, held in Bauru, Brazil (22 S, 49 W). Tropical cirrus observations showed high mesoscale variability in optical and microphysical properties. The cirrus clouds were observed throughout the flight between 12 and 15 km height. It was found that the clouds were composed of different layers, characterized by a marked variability in height, thickness and optical properties. Trajectory analysis and mesoscale transport simulations clearly revealed that the clouds had formed in the outflow of a large and persistent convective region, while the observed optical properties and cloud structure variability could be linked to different residence times of convective-processed air in the upper troposphere. Mesoscale simulations were able to reproduce the supersaturation due to recent outflow, while it was necessary to consider the presence of other formation processes than convective hydration for cirrus forming in aged detrained anvils.

scholarly journals Lidar Studies on The Optical Characteristics of High Altitude Cirrus Clouds at A Low Latitiude Station, Gadanki (13.5°N , 79.2°E ) India

2014 ◽  
Vol XL-8 ◽  
pp. 253-256
Author(s):  
G. S. Jayeshlal ◽  
M. Satyanarayana ◽  
G. S. Motty ◽  
R. K. Dhaman ◽  
V. Krishnakumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
High Altitude ◽  
Radiation Effects ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Short Wave ◽  
Cirrus Clouds ◽  
Microphysical Properties ◽  
Cloud Properties ◽  
Radio Detection ◽  
Lidar Measurements

Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) which is analogous to Radio Detection And Ranging (RADAR), has become an important and unique technology for atmospheric research and applications. The technology is widely used for the remote sensing of the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, vegetation and the characteristics of Earth’s topography. Remote sensing of atmosphere, for its structure, composition and dynamics, is one of the proven applications of the lidar systems. More importantly the lidar technique is applied for the study of clouds, aerosols and minor constituents in the atmosphere. It provides the information on the above with good spatial and temporal resolutions and accuracy. The high altitude cirrus clouds which play an important role in the Earth’s radiative budget and global climate can be studied by using the LIDAR system. These clouds absorb long-wave outgoing radiation from Earth’s surface while reflecting part of the incoming short-wave solar radiation. Lidar measurements are useful in deriving the altitude, top height, bottom height and the optical properties of cirrus clouds, which are essential in understanding the cloud-radiation effects. The optical depth, the effective lidar ratio and the depolarization of the clouds are also derived by inverting the lidar signals from the cirrus clouds. In this paper we present the results on the lidar derived optical and microphysical properties of the cirrus clouds at a tropical station Gadanki (13.5°N, 79.2°E) India during two year period from 2009 to210. The seasonal variations of the cloud properties during the observation period are presented and discussed with reference to earlier period.

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