On the measurement of stratus cloud properties with a cloud radar and microwave radiometer

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.S. Frisch ◽  
T. Uttal ◽  
C.W. Fairall ◽  
J.B. Snider
Keyword(s):  
Microwave Radiometer ◽  
Stratus Cloud ◽  
Cloud Radar ◽  
Cloud Properties

On cloud radar and microwave radiometer measurements of stratus cloud liquid water profiles

1998 ◽  
Vol 103 (D18) ◽  
pp. 23195-23197 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. S. Frisch ◽  
G. Feingold ◽  
C. W. Fairall ◽  
T. Uttal ◽  
J. B. Snider
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Water ◽  
Microwave Radiometer ◽  
Cloud Liquid Water ◽  
Stratus Cloud ◽  
Cloud Radar

scholarly journals Comparison of MODIS and VIIRS cloud properties with ARM ground-based observations over Finland

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 3193-3203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moa K. Sporre ◽  
Ewan J. O'Connor ◽  
Nina Håkansson ◽  
Anke Thoss ◽  
Erik Swietlicki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infrared Imaging ◽  
Microwave Radiometer ◽  
Single Layer ◽  
Radar Data ◽  
Liquid Water Path ◽  
Cloud Parameters ◽  
Cloud Properties ◽  
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer ◽  
Biogenic Aerosols ◽  
Cloud Mask

Abstract. Cloud retrievals from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instruments aboard the satellites Terra and Aqua and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard the Suomi-NPP satellite are evaluated using a combination of ground-based instruments providing vertical profiles of clouds. The ground-based measurements are obtained from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) programme mobile facility, which was deployed in Hyytiälä, Finland, between February and September 2014 for the Biogenic Aerosols – Effects on Clouds and Climate (BAECC) campaign. The satellite cloud parameters cloud top height (CTH) and liquid water path (LWP) are compared with ground-based CTH obtained from a cloud mask created using lidar and radar data and LWP acquired from a multi-channel microwave radiometer. Clouds from all altitudes in the atmosphere are investigated. The clouds are diagnosed as single or multiple layer using the ground-based cloud mask. For single-layer clouds, satellites overestimated CTH by 326 m (14 %) on average. When including multilayer clouds, satellites underestimated CTH by on average 169 m (5.8 %). MODIS collection 6 overestimated LWP by on average 13 g m−2 (11 %). Interestingly, LWP for MODIS collection 5.1 is slightly overestimated by Aqua (4.56 %) but is underestimated by Terra (14.3 %). This underestimation may be attributed to a known issue with a drift in the reflectance bands of the MODIS instrument on Terra. This evaluation indicates that the satellite cloud parameters selected show reasonable agreement with their ground-based counterparts over Finland, with minimal influence from the large solar zenith angle experienced by the satellites in this high-latitude location.

Comparison of Stratus Cloud Properties Deduced from Surface, GOES, and Aircraft Data during the March 2000 ARM Cloud IOP

2002 ◽  
Vol 59 (23) ◽  
pp. 3265-3284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiquan Dong ◽  
Gerald G. Mace ◽  
Patrick Minnis ◽  
William L. Smith ◽  
Michael Poellot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stratus Cloud ◽  
Cloud Properties ◽  
Aircraft Data

scholarly journals Investigation of the adiabatic assumption for estimating cloud micro- and macrophysical properties from satellite and ground observations

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 933-952 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Merk ◽  
H. Deneke ◽  
B. Pospichal ◽  
P. Seifert
Keyword(s):  
Optical Depth ◽  
Microwave Radiometer ◽  
Cloud Droplet ◽  
Satellite Observations ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Cloud Optical Depth ◽  
Cloud Radar ◽  
Aerosol Cloud ◽  
Droplet Concentration ◽  
Aerosol Cloud Interactions

Abstract. Cloud properties from both ground-based as well as from geostationary passive satellite observations have been used previously for diagnosing aerosol–cloud interactions. In this investigation, a 2-year data set together with four selected case studies are analyzed with the aim of evaluating the consistency and limitations of current ground-based and satellite-retrieved cloud property data sets. The typically applied adiabatic cloud profile is modified using a sub-adiabatic factor to account for entrainment within the cloud. Based on the adiabatic factor obtained from the combination of ground-based cloud radar, ceilometer and microwave radiometer, we demonstrate that neither the assumption of a completely adiabatic cloud nor the assumption of a constant sub-adiabatic factor is fulfilled (mean adiabatic factor 0.63 ± 0.22). As cloud adiabaticity is required to estimate the cloud droplet number concentration but is not available from passive satellite observations, an independent method to estimate the adiabatic factor, and thus the influence of mixing, would be highly desirable for global-scale analyses. Considering the radiative effect of a cloud described by the sub-adiabatic model, we focus on cloud optical depth and its sensitivities. Ground-based estimates are here compared vs. cloud optical depth retrieved from the Meteosat SEVIRI satellite instrument resulting in a bias of −4 and a root mean square difference of 16. While a synergistic approach based on the combination of ceilometer, cloud radar and microwave radiometer enables an estimate of the cloud droplet concentration, it is highly sensitive to radar calibration and to assumptions about the moments of the droplet size distribution. Similarly, satellite-based estimates of cloud droplet concentration are uncertain. We conclude that neither the ground-based nor satellite-based cloud retrievals applied here allow a robust estimate of cloud droplet concentration, which complicates its use for the study of aerosol–cloud interactions.

Cirrus Microphysical Properties and Air Motion Statistics Using Cloud Radar Doppler Moments. Part II: Climatology

2008 ◽  
Vol 47 (12) ◽  
pp. 3221-3235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Deng ◽  
Gerald G. Mace
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Seasonal Variations ◽  
Radiative Heating ◽  
Ice Clouds ◽  
Cloud Radar ◽  
Microphysical Properties ◽  
Cloud Properties ◽  
Early Afternoon ◽  
Seasonal And Diurnal Variations ◽  
Air Motion

Abstract The algorithm described in Part I has been applied to the millimeter cloud radar observations from January 1999 to December 2005 at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program (ARM) Southern Great Plains (SGP) and Tropical Western Pacific (including Manus and Nauru) sites. Approximately 10 000 cirrus hours from each of these sites were analyzed. Retrieved cloud properties including condensed mass, particle size, optical depth, and in-cloud vertical air motions were analyzed in terms of their geographical, seasonal, and diurnal variations. The analysis shows that tropical ice clouds observed by millimeter radar are very different from ice clouds at SGP, with the tropical clouds having slightly larger particle sizes and greater ice masses and being more likely to be associated with ascending air motions, in addition to being colder and higher in altitude. A positive residual of derived in-cloud air motion found in the tropical data likely provides evidence for lofting of air into the tropopause transition layer as a result of radiative heating. The midlatitude cirrus demonstrate strong seasonal variations with more frequent, thicker clouds occurring during the summer than during the winter. Very subtle seasonal variations are found for tropical ice clouds, and evidence is presented that cirrus properties vary interannually and are correlated with El Niño oscillations. In addition, it is found that tropical cirrus demonstrate a stronger diurnal cycle than cirrus of the midlatitudes, with the in-cloud updrafts peaking in the early afternoon.

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