Intraseasonal Forcing of Convection and Lightning Activity in the Southern Amazon as a Function of Cross-Equatorial Flow

2006 ◽  
Vol 19 (13) ◽  
pp. 3180-3196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter A. Petersen ◽  
Rong Fu ◽  
Mingxuan Chen ◽  
Richard Blakeslee
Keyword(s):  
Wind Shear ◽  
Lightning Activity ◽  
Lightning Flash ◽  
Easterly Wind ◽  
Water Path ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Ice Water Path ◽  
Stratiform Precipitation ◽  
Ice Water ◽  
Thermodynamic Instability

Abstract This study focuses on modulation of lightning and convective vertical structure in the southern Amazon as a function of the South American monsoon V index (VI). Four wet seasons (December–March 1998–2001) of Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data are examined together with two wet seasons (2000–01) of ground-based Brazilian Lightning Detection Network (BLDN) data. These observations are composited by VI phase (northerly or southerly) for a region of the southern Amazon and discussed relative to VI-regime environmental characteristics such as thermodynamic instability and wind shear. Relative comparisons of VI-regime convective properties reveal 1) slightly larger (20%–25%) PR pixel-mean rainfall during periods of northerly VI due to increased stratiform precipitation, 2) a factor of 2 or more increase in lightning flash density and the lightning diurnal cycle amplitude during periods of southerly VI, 3) a factor of 1.5–2 increase in the conditional probability of any PR radar reflectivity pixel exceeding 30 dBZ above the −10°C level during periods of southerly VI, and 4) an associated factor of 2 or more increase in southerly VI pixel-mean ice water path, with the ice water path being highly correlated to trends in lightning activity. During periods of southerly VI, convection occurs in an environment of increased thermodynamic instability, weak southeasterly low-level, and deep upper-tropospheric easterly wind shear. During periods of northerly VI, low-level westerly shear opposes stronger deep tropospheric easterly shear in a relatively moist environment of weaker thermodynamic instability, consistent with the occurrence of more widespread stratiform precipitation. The composite results of this study point to 1) regime differences in convective forcing that alter the prevalence of ice processes and, by inference, the vertical profile of latent heating and 2) the utility of lightning observations in delineating convective regime changes.

scholarly journals Low-level mixed-phase clouds in a complex Arctic environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 3459-3481 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa Gierens ◽  
Stefan Kneifel ◽  
Matthew D. Shupe ◽  
Kerstin Ebell ◽  
Marion Maturilli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Local Wind ◽  
Liquid Water Path ◽  
Water Path ◽  
Local Boundary ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Ice Water Path ◽  
Mixed Phase Clouds ◽  
Ice Water ◽  
Surface Coupling

Abstract. Low-level mixed-phase clouds (MPCs) are common in the Arctic. Both local and large-scale phenomena influence the properties and lifetime of MPCs. Arctic fjords are characterized by complex terrain and large variations in surface properties. Yet, not many studies have investigated the impact of local boundary layer dynamics and their relative importance on MPCs in the fjord environment. In this work, we used a combination of ground-based remote sensing instruments, surface meteorological observations, radiosoundings, and reanalysis data to study persistent low-level MPCs at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, for a 2.5-year period. Methods to identify the cloud regime, surface coupling, and regional and local wind patterns were developed. We found that persistent low-level MPCs were most common with westerly winds, and the westerly clouds had a higher mean liquid (42 g m−2) and ice water path (16 g m−2) compared to those with easterly winds. The increased height and rarity of persistent MPCs with easterly free-tropospheric winds suggest the island and its orography have an influence on the studied clouds. Seasonal variation in the liquid water path was found to be minimal, although the occurrence of persistent MPCs, their height, and their ice water path all showed notable seasonal dependency. Most of the studied MPCs were decoupled from the surface (63 %–82 % of the time). The coupled clouds had 41 % higher liquid water path than the fully decoupled ones. Local winds in the fjord were related to the frequency of surface coupling, and we propose that katabatic winds from the glaciers in the vicinity of the station may cause clouds to decouple. We concluded that while the regional to large-scale wind direction was important for the persistent MPC occurrence and properties, the local-scale phenomena (local wind patterns in the fjord and surface coupling) also had an influence. Moreover, this suggests that local boundary layer processes should be described in models in order to present low-level MPC properties accurately.

scholarly journals Potential of Hyperspectral Thermal Infrared Spaceborne Measurements to Retrieve Ice Cloud Physical Properties: Case Study of IASI and IASI-NG

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 116
Author(s):  
Lucie Leonarski ◽  
Laurent C.-Labonnote ◽  
Mathieu Compiègne ◽  
Jérôme Vidot ◽  
Anthony J. Baran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radiative Transfer ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Thermal Infrared ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Retrieval Algorithm ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Water Path ◽  
Ice Cloud ◽  
Ice Water Path ◽  
Ice Water

The present study aims to quantify the potential of hyperspectral thermal infrared sounders such as the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) and the future IASI next generation (IASI-NG) for retrieving the ice cloud layer altitude and thickness together with the ice water path. We employed the radiative transfer model Radiative Transfer for TOVS (RTTOV) to simulate cloudy radiances using parameterized ice cloud optical properties. The radiances have been computed from an ice cloud profile database coming from global operational short-range forecasts at the European Center for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) which encloses the normal conditions, typical variability, and extremes of the atmospheric properties over one year (Eresmaa and McNally (2014)). We performed an information content analysis based on Shannon’s formalism to determine the amount and spectral distribution of the information about ice cloud properties. Based on this analysis, a retrieval algorithm has been developed and tested on the profile database. We considered the signal-to-noise ratio of each specific instrument and the non-retrieved atmospheric and surface parameter errors. This study brings evidence that the observing system provides information on the ice water path (IWP) as well as on the layer altitude and thickness with a convergence rate up to 95% and expected errors that decrease with cloud opacity until the signal saturation is reached (satisfying retrievals are achieved for clouds whose IWP is between about 1 and 300 g/m2).

Variational Assimilation of Cloud Liquid/Ice Water Path and Its Impact on NWP

2015 ◽  
Vol 54 (8) ◽  
pp. 1809-1825 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaodeng Chen ◽  
Hongli Wang ◽  
Jinzhong Min ◽  
Xiang-Yu Huang ◽  
Patrick Minnis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Assimilation ◽  
Liquid Water ◽  
Weather Prediction ◽  
Wrf Model ◽  
Liquid Water Path ◽  
Cloud Liquid Water ◽  
Water Path ◽  
Ice Water Path ◽  
Ice Water ◽  
The Impact

AbstractAnalysis of the cloud components in numerical weather prediction models using advanced data assimilation techniques has been a prime topic in recent years. In this research, the variational data assimilation (DA) system for the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model (WRFDA) is further developed to assimilate satellite cloud products that will produce the cloud liquid water and ice water analysis. Observation operators for the cloud liquid water path and cloud ice water path are developed and incorporated into the WRFDA system. The updated system is tested by assimilating cloud liquid water path and cloud ice water path observations from Global Geostationary Gridded Cloud Products at NASA. To assess the impact of cloud liquid/ice water path data assimilation on short-term regional numerical weather prediction (NWP), 3-hourly cycling data assimilation and forecast experiments with and without the use of the cloud liquid/ice water paths are conducted. It is shown that assimilating cloud liquid/ice water paths increases the accuracy of temperature, humidity, and wind analyses at model levels between 300 and 150 hPa after 5 cycles (15 h). It is also shown that assimilating cloud liquid/ice water paths significantly reduces forecast errors in temperature and wind at model levels between 300 and 150 hPa. The precipitation forecast skills are improved as well. One reason that leads to the improved analysis and forecast is that the 3-hourly rapid update cycle carries over the impact of cloud information from the previous cycles spun up by the WRF Model.

scholarly journals The Impacts of Atmospheric and Surface Parameters on Long-Term Variations in the Planetary Albedo

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (21) ◽  
pp. 8705-8718 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bida Jian ◽  
Jiming Li ◽  
Guoyin Wang ◽  
Yongli He ◽  
Ying Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Water ◽  
Surface Albedo ◽  
Cloud Fraction ◽  
Liquid Water Path ◽  
Water Path ◽  
Ice Water Path ◽  
Planetary Albedo ◽  
Ice Water ◽  
Long Term Variations

Planetary albedo (PA; shortwave broadband albedo) and its long-term variations, which are controlled in a complex way by various atmospheric and surface properties, play a key role in controlling the global and regional energy budget. This study investigates the contributions of different atmospheric and surface properties to the long-term variations of PA based on 13 years (2003–15) of albedo, cloud, and ice coverage datasets from the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) Single Scanner Footprint edition 4A product, vegetation product from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), and surface albedo product from the Cloud, Albedo, and Radiation dataset, version 2 (CLARA-A2). According to the temporal correlation analysis, statistical results indicate that variations in PA are closely related to the variations of cloud properties (e.g., cloud fraction, ice water path, and liquid water path) and surface parameters (e.g., ice/snow percent coverage and normalized difference vegetation index), but their temporal relationships vary among the different regions. Generally, the stepwise multiple linear regression models can capture the observed PA anomalies for most regions. Based on the contribution calculation, cloud fraction dominates the variability of PA in the mid- and low latitudes while ice/snow percent coverage (or surface albedo) dominates the variability in the mid- and high latitudes. Changes in cloud liquid water path and ice water path are the secondary dominant factor over most regions, whereas change in vegetation cover is the least important factor over land. These results verify the effects of atmospheric and surface factors on planetary albedo changes and thus may be of benefit for improving the parameterization of the PA and determining the climate feedbacks.

scholarly journals Systematic and random errors between collocated satellite ice water path observations

2013 ◽  
Vol 118 (6) ◽  
pp. 2629-2642 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Eliasson ◽  
G. Holl ◽  
S. A. Buehler ◽  
T. Kuhn ◽  
M. Stengel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Random Errors ◽  
Water Path ◽  
Ice Water Path ◽  
Systematic And Random Errors ◽  
Ice Water

scholarly journals Characterisation of the artificial neural network CiPS for cirrus cloud remote sensing with MSG/SEVIRI

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 4317-4339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Strandgren ◽  
Jennifer Fricker ◽  
Luca Bugliaro
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Optical Thickness ◽  
Cirrus Clouds ◽  
Cirrus Cloud ◽  
Retrieval Error ◽  
Water Path ◽  
Retrieval Accuracy ◽  
Ice Water Path ◽  
Retrieval Errors ◽  
Ice Water

Abstract. Cirrus clouds remain one of the key uncertainties in atmospheric research. To better understand the properties and physical processes of cirrus clouds, accurate large-scale observations from satellites are required. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) have proved to be a useful tool for cirrus cloud remote sensing. Since physics is not modelled explicitly in ANNs, a thorough characterisation of the networks is necessary. In this paper the CiPS (Cirrus Properties from SEVIRI) algorithm is characterised using the space-borne lidar CALIOP. CiPS is composed of a set of ANNs for the cirrus cloud detection, opacity identification and the corresponding cloud top height, ice optical thickness and ice water path retrieval from the imager SEVIRI aboard the geostationary Meteosat Second Generation satellites. First, the retrieval accuracy is characterised with respect to different land surface types. The retrieval works best over water and vegetated surfaces, whereas a surface covered by permanent snow and ice or barren reduces the cirrus detection ability and increases the retrieval errors for the ice optical thickness and ice water path if the cirrus cloud is thin (optical thickness less than approx. 0.3). Second, the retrieval accuracy is characterised with respect to the vertical arrangement of liquid, ice clouds and aerosol layers as derived from CALIOP lidar data. The CiPS retrievals show little interference from liquid water clouds and aerosol layers below an observed cirrus cloud. A liquid water cloud vertically close or adjacent to the cirrus clearly increases the average retrieval errors for the optical thickness and ice water path, respectively, only for thin cirrus clouds with an optical thickness below 0.3 or ice water path below 5.0 g m−2. For the cloud top height retrieval, only aerosol layers affect the retrieval error, with an increased positive bias when the cirrus is at low altitudes. Third, the CiPS retrieval error is characterised with respect to the properties of the investigated cirrus cloud (ice optical thickness and cloud top height). On average CiPS can retrieve the cirrus cloud top height with a relative error around 8 % and no bias and the ice optical thickness with a relative error around 50 % and bias around ±10 % for the most common combinations of cloud top height and ice optical thickness. Similarities with physically based retrieval methods are evident, which implies that even though the retrieval methods differ in the implementation of physics in the model, the retrievals behave similarly due to physical constraints. Finally, we also show that the ANN retrievals have a low sensitivity to radiometric noise in the SEVIRI observations. For optical thickness and ice water path the relative uncertainty due to noise is less than 10 % down to sub-visual cirrus. For the cloud top height retrieval the uncertainty due to noise is around 100 m for all cloud top heights.

scholarly journals FORUM Earth Explorer 9: Characteristics of Level 2 Products and Synergies with IASI-NG

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1496
Author(s):  
Marco Ridolfi ◽  
Samuele Del Bianco ◽  
Alessio Di Roma ◽  
Elisa Castelli ◽  
Claudio Belotti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapour ◽  
Far Infrared ◽  
Spectral Emissivity ◽  
Spectral Radiance ◽  
Calibration Error ◽  
Water Path ◽  
Cloud Parameters ◽  
Ice Water Path ◽  
Ice Water ◽  
Level 2

FORUM (Far-infrared Outgoing Radiation Understanding and Monitoring) has been approved to be the ninth Earth Explorer mission of the European Space Agency. The mission is scheduled for launch on a Polar satellite in the 2025–2026 time frame. The core FORUM instrument is a Fourier Transform Spectrometer measuring, with very high accuracy, the upwelling spectral radiance, from 100 to 1600 cm − 1 (from 100 to 6.25 microns in wavelength), thus covering the Far-Infrared (FIR), and a Mid-Infrared (MIR) portion of the spectrum emitted by the Earth. FORUM will fly in loose formation with the MetOp-SG-1A satellite, hosting the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer – New Generation (IASI-NG). IASI-NG will measure only the MIR part of the upwelling atmospheric spectrum, from 645 to 2760 cm − 1 (from 15.5 to 3.62 microns in wavelength), thus, the matching FORUM measurements will supply the missing FIR complement. Together, the two missions will provide, for the first time, a spectrally resolved measurement of the full Earth emitted thermal spectrum. The calibrated spectral radiance will be, on its own, the main product of the FORUM mission, however, the radiances will also be processed up to Level 2, to determine the vertical profile of water vapour, surface spectral emissivity and cloud parameters in the case of cloudy atmospheres. In this paper we assess the performance of the FORUM Level 2 products based on clear-sky simulated retrievals and we study how the FORUM and IASI-NG matching measurements can be fused in a synergistic retrieval scheme, to provide improved Level 2 products. Considering only the measurement noise and the systematic calibration error components, we find the following figures for the synergistic FORUM and IASI-NG retrieval products. In the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere region, individual water vapour profiles can be retrieved with 1 km vertical sampling and an error ranging from 10% to 15%. In the range from 300 to 600 cm − 1 , surface spectral emissivity can be retrieved with an absolute error as small as 0.001 in dry Polar atmospheres. Ice cloud parameters such as ice water path and cloud top height can be retrieved with errors smaller than 10% and 1 km, respectively, for ice water path values ranging from 0.2 to 60 g/m 2 .

A Characterization of Cirrus Cloud Properties That Affect Laser Propagation

2008 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 1322-1336
Author(s):  
Donald C. Norquist ◽  
Paul R. Desrochers ◽  
Patrick J. McNicholl ◽  
John R. Roadcap
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
High Altitude ◽  
Satellite Imagery ◽  
Geostationary Satellite ◽  
Retrieval Algorithm ◽  
Water Path ◽  
Ice Water Path ◽  
Laser Extinction ◽  
Ice Water ◽  
Transmission Models

Abstract Future high-altitude laser systems may be affected by cirrus clouds. Laser transmission models were applied to measured and retrieved cirrus properties to determine cirrus impact on power incident on a target or receiver. A major goal was to see how well radiosondes and geostationary satellite imagery could specify the required properties. Based on the use of ground-based radar and lidar measurements as a reference, errors in cirrus-top and cirrus-base height estimates from radiosonde observations were 20%–25% of geostationary satellite retrieval errors. Radiosondes had a perfect cirrus detection rate as compared with 80% for satellite detection. Ice water path and effective particle size were obtained with a published radar–lidar retrieval algorithm and a documented satellite algorithm. Radar–lidar particle size and ice water path were 1.5 and 3 times the satellite retrievals, respectively. Radar–lidar-based laser extinction coefficients were 55% greater than satellite values. Measured radar–lidar cirrus thickness was consistently greater than satellite-retrieved thickness, but radar–lidar microphysical retrieval required detection by both sensors at each range gate, which limited the retrievals’ vertical extent. Greater radar–lidar extinction and greater satellite-based cirrus thickness yielded comparable optical depths for the two independent retrievals. Laser extinction–transmission models applied to radiosonde-retrieved cirrus heights and satellite-retrieved microphysical properties revealed a significant power loss by all models as the laser beam transits the cirrus layer. This suggests that cirrus location is more important than microphysics in high-altitude laser test support. Geostationary satellite imagery may be insufficient in cirrus detection and retrieval accuracy. Humidity-sensitive radiosondes are a potential proxy for ground-based remote sensors in cirrus detection and altitude determination.

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