scholarly journals Cloud chamber experiments on the origin of ice crystal complexity in cirrus clouds

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 5091-5110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Schnaiter ◽  
Emma Järvinen ◽  
Paul Vochezer ◽  
Ahmed Abdelmonem ◽  
Robert Wagner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Light Scattering ◽  
Cloud Chamber ◽  
Cirrus Clouds ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Ice Crystal ◽  
Ice Clouds ◽  
Microphysical Properties ◽  
Institute Of Technology ◽  
Low Sensitivity

Abstract. This study reports on the origin of small-scale ice crystal complexity and its influence on the angular light scattering properties of cirrus clouds. Cloud simulation experiments were conducted at the AIDA (Aerosol Interactions and Dynamics in the Atmosphere) cloud chamber of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). A new experimental procedure was applied to grow and sublimate ice particles at defined super- and subsaturated ice conditions and for temperatures in the −40 to −60 °C range. The experiments were performed for ice clouds generated via homogeneous and heterogeneous initial nucleation. Small-scale ice crystal complexity was deduced from measurements of spatially resolved single particle light scattering patterns by the latest version of the Small Ice Detector (SID-3). It was found that a high crystal complexity dominates the microphysics of the simulated clouds and the degree of this complexity is dependent on the available water vapor during the crystal growth. Indications were found that the small-scale crystal complexity is influenced by unfrozen H2SO4 / H2O residuals in the case of homogeneous initial ice nucleation. Angular light scattering functions of the simulated ice clouds were measured by the two currently available airborne polar nephelometers: the polar nephelometer (PN) probe of Laboratoire de Métérologie et Physique (LaMP) and the Particle Habit Imaging and Polar Scattering (PHIPS-HALO) probe of KIT. The measured scattering functions are featureless and flat in the side and backward scattering directions. It was found that these functions have a rather low sensitivity to the small-scale crystal complexity for ice clouds that were grown under typical atmospheric conditions. These results have implications for the microphysical properties of cirrus clouds and for the radiative transfer through these clouds.

scholarly journals Cloud chamber experiments on the origin of ice crystal complexity in cirrus clouds

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (21) ◽  
pp. 30511-30561 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Schnaiter ◽  
E. Järvinen ◽  
P. Vochezer ◽  
A. Abdelmonem ◽  
R. Wagner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Light Scattering ◽  
Cloud Chamber ◽  
Cirrus Clouds ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Ice Crystal ◽  
Ice Clouds ◽  
Spatially Resolved ◽  
Microphysical Properties ◽  
Institute Of Technology ◽  
Low Sensitivity

Abstract. This study reports on the origin of ice crystal complexity and its influence on the angular light scattering properties of cirrus clouds. Cloud simulation experiments were conducted at the AIDA (Aerosol Interactions and Dynamics in the Atmosphere) cloud chamber of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). A new experimental procedure was applied to grow and sublimate ice particles at defined super- and subsaturated ice conditions and for temperatures in the −40 to −60 °C range. The experiments were performed for ice clouds generated via homogeneous and heterogeneous initial nucleation. Ice crystal complexity was deduced from measurements of spatially resolved single particle light scattering patterns by the latest version of the Small Ice Detector (SID-3). It was found that a high ice crystal complexity is dominating the microphysics of the simulated clouds and the degree of this complexity is dependent on the available water vapour during the crystal growth. Indications were found that the crystal complexity is influenced by unfrozen H2SO4/H2O residuals in the case of homogeneous initial ice nucleation. Angular light scattering functions of the simulated ice clouds were measured by the two currently available airborne polar nephelometers; the Polar Nephelometer (PN) probe of LaMP and the Particle Habit Imaging and Polar Scattering (PHIPS-HALO) probe of KIT. The measured scattering functions are featureless and flat in the side- and backward scattering directions resulting in low asymmetry parameters g around 0.78. It was found that these functions have a rather low sensitivity to the crystal complexity for ice clouds that were grown under typical atmospheric conditions. These results have implications for the microphysical properties of cirrus clouds and for the radiative transfer through these clouds.

scholarly journals The origin of midlatitude ice clouds and the resulting influence on their microphysical properties

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (23) ◽  
pp. 34243-34281 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. E. Luebke ◽  
A. Afchine ◽  
A. Costa ◽  
J. Meyer ◽  
C. Rolf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bimodal Distribution ◽  
Cirrus Clouds ◽  
Ice Crystals ◽  
Radiative Properties ◽  
Ice Crystal ◽  
Ice Clouds ◽  
Microphysical Properties ◽  
Ice Crystal Size ◽  
Ice Water

Abstract. The radiative role of ice clouds in the atmosphere is known to be important, but uncertainties remain concerning the magnitude and net effects. However, through measurements of the microphysical properties of cirrus clouds, we can better characterize them, which can ultimately allow for their radiative properties to be more accurately ascertained. It has recently been proposed that there are two types of cirrus clouds – in situ and liquid origin. In this study, we present observational evidence to show that two distinct types of cirrus do exist. Airborne, in situ measurements of cloud ice water content (IWC), ice crystal concentration (Nice), and ice crystal size from the 2014 ML-CIRRUS campaign provide cloud samples that have been divided according to their origin type. The key features that set liquid origin cirrus apart from the in situ origin cirrus are a higher frequency of high IWC (> 100 ppmv), higher Nice values, and larger ice crystals. A vertical distribution of Nice shows that the in situ origin cirrus clouds exhibit a median value of around 0.1 cm−3, while the liquid origin concentrations are slightly, but notably higher. The median sizes of the crystals contributing the most mass are less than 200 μm for in situ origin cirrus, with some of the largest crystals reaching 550 μm in size. The liquid origin cirrus, on the other hand, were observed to have median diameters greater than 200 μm, and crystals that were up to 750 μm. An examination of these characteristics in relation to each other and their relationship to temperature provides strong evidence that these differences arise from the dynamics and conditions in which the ice crystals formed. Additionally, the existence of these two groups in cirrus cloud populations may explain why a bimodal distribution in the IWC-temperature relationship has been observed. We hypothesize that the low IWC mode is the result of in situ origin cirrus and the high IWC mode is the result of liquid origin cirrus.

scholarly journals The origin of midlatitude ice clouds and the resulting influence on their microphysical properties

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. 5793-5809 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna E. Luebke ◽  
Armin Afchine ◽  
Anja Costa ◽  
Jens-Uwe Grooß ◽  
Jessica Meyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bimodal Distribution ◽  
Cirrus Clouds ◽  
Ice Crystals ◽  
Radiative Properties ◽  
Ice Crystal ◽  
Ice Clouds ◽  
Microphysical Properties ◽  
Ice Crystal Size ◽  
Ice Water

Abstract. The radiative role of ice clouds in the atmosphere is known to be important, but uncertainties remain concerning the magnitude and net effects. However, through measurements of the microphysical properties of cirrus clouds, we can better characterize them, which can ultimately allow for their radiative properties to be more accurately ascertained. Recently, two types of cirrus clouds differing by formation mechanism and microphysical properties have been classified – in situ and liquid origin cirrus. In this study, we present observational evidence to show that two distinct types of cirrus do exist. Airborne, in situ measurements of cloud ice water content (IWC), ice crystal concentration (Nice), and ice crystal size from the 2014 ML-CIRRUS campaign provide cloud samples that have been divided according to their origin type. The key features that set liquid origin cirrus apart from the in situ origin cirrus are higher frequencies of high IWC ( > 100 ppmv), higher Nice values, and larger ice crystals. A vertical distribution of Nice shows that the in situ origin cirrus clouds exhibit a median value of around 0.1 cm−3, while the liquid origin concentrations are slightly, but notably higher. The median sizes of the crystals contributing the most mass are less than 200 µm for in situ origin cirrus, with some of the largest crystals reaching 550 µm in size. The liquid origin cirrus, on the other hand, were observed to have median diameters greater than 200 µm, and crystals that were up to 750 µm. An examination of these characteristics in relation to each other and their relationship to temperature provides strong evidence that these differences arise from the dynamics and conditions in which the ice crystals formed. Additionally, the existence of these two groups in cirrus cloud populations may explain why a bimodal distribution in the IWC-temperature relationship has been observed. We hypothesize that the low IWC mode is the result of in situ origin cirrus and the high IWC mode is the result of liquid origin cirrus.

The Origin of High Ice Crystal Number Densities in Cirrus Clouds

2005 ◽  
Vol 62 (7) ◽  
pp. 2568-2579 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. Hoyle ◽  
B. P. Luo ◽  
T. Peter
Keyword(s):  
Cirrus Clouds ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Ice Crystal ◽  
Cooling Rates ◽  
Density Distributions ◽  
In Situ Forming ◽  
Independent Particle ◽  
Scale Temperature ◽  
High Cooling Rates ◽  
Homogeneous Freezing

Abstract Recent measurements with four independent particle instruments in cirrus clouds, which formed without convective or orographic influence, report high number densities of ice particles (as high as nice = 50 cm−3) embedded in broad density distributions (nice = 0.1–50 cm−3). It is shown here that small-scale temperature fluctuations related to gravity waves, mechanical turbulence, or other small-scale air motions are required to explain these observations. These waves have typical peak-to-peak amplitudes of 1–2 K and frequencies of up to 10 h−1, corresponding to instantaneous cooling rates of up to 60 K h−1. Such waves remain unresolved in even the most advanced state-of-the-art global atmospheric models. Given the ubiquitous nature of these fluctuations, it is suggested that the character of young in situ forming cirrus clouds is mostly determined by homogeneous freezing of ice in solution droplets, driven by a broad range of small-scale fluctuations (period ∼a few minutes) with moderate to high cooling rates (1–100 K h−1).

scholarly journals Direct comparisons of ice cloud macro- and microphysical properties simulated by the Community Atmosphere Model version 5 with HIPPO aircraft observations

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 4731-4749 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenglai Wu ◽  
Xiaohong Liu ◽  
Minghui Diao ◽  
Kai Zhang ◽  
Andrew Gettelman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nucleation And Growth ◽  
Ice Nucleation ◽  
Ice Crystal ◽  
Ice Clouds ◽  
Model Version ◽  
Microphysical Properties ◽  
Cloud Properties ◽  
Community Atmosphere Model ◽  
Atmosphere Model ◽  
Ice Water

Abstract. In this study we evaluate cloud properties simulated by the Community Atmosphere Model version 5 (CAM5) using in situ measurements from the HIAPER Pole-to-Pole Observations (HIPPO) campaign for the period of 2009 to 2011. The modeled wind and temperature are nudged towards reanalysis. Model results collocated with HIPPO flight tracks are directly compared with the observations, and model sensitivities to the representations of ice nucleation and growth are also examined. Generally, CAM5 is able to capture specific cloud systems in terms of vertical configuration and horizontal extension. In total, the model reproduces 79.8 % of observed cloud occurrences inside model grid boxes and even higher (94.3 %) for ice clouds (T ≤ −40 °C). The missing cloud occurrences in the model are primarily ascribed to the fact that the model cannot account for the high spatial variability of observed relative humidity (RH). Furthermore, model RH biases are mostly attributed to the discrepancies in water vapor, rather than temperature. At the micro-scale of ice clouds, the model captures the observed increase of ice crystal mean sizes with temperature, albeit with smaller sizes than the observations. The model underestimates the observed ice number concentration (Ni) and ice water content (IWC) for ice crystals larger than 75 µm in diameter. Modeled IWC and Ni are more sensitive to the threshold diameter for autoconversion of cloud ice to snow (Dcs), while simulated ice crystal mean size is more sensitive to ice nucleation parameterizations than to Dcs. Our results highlight the need for further improvements to the sub-grid RH variability and ice nucleation and growth in the model.

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 Evaluation of differential absorption radars in the 183 GHz band for profiling water vapour in ice clouds

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 3335-3349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Battaglia ◽  
Pavlos Kollias
Keyword(s):  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Water Vapour ◽  
Vertical Resolution ◽  
Ice Crystal ◽  
Differential Absorption ◽  
Ice Clouds ◽  
Microphysical Properties ◽  
W Band ◽  
Vapour Density ◽  
Water Vapour Absorption

Abstract. Relative humidity (RH) measurements in ice clouds are essential for determining ice crystal growth processes and rates. A differential absorption radar (DAR) system with several frequency channels within the 183.3 GHz water vapour absorption band is proposed for measuring RH within ice clouds. Here, the performance of a DAR system is evaluated by applying a DAR simulator to A-Train observations in combination with co-located European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) reanalysis. Observations from the CloudSat W-band radar and from the CALIPSO lidar are converted first into ice microphysical properties and then coupled with ECMWF temperature and relative humidity profiles in order to compute scattering properties at any frequency within the 183.3 GHz band. A self-similar Rayleigh–Gans approximation is used to model the ice crystal scattering properties. The radar reflectivities are computed both for a space-borne and airborne and a ground-based DAR system by using appropriate radar receiver characteristics. Sets of multi-frequency synthetic observation of attenuated reflectivities are then exploited to retrieve profiles of water vapour density by fitting the line shape at different levels. A total of 10 d of A-Train observations are used to test the measurement technique performance for different combinations of tones when sampling ice clouds globally. Results show that water vapour densities can be derived at the level that can enable ice process studies (i.e. better than 3 %), both from a ground-based system (at the minute temporal scale and with circa 100 m vertical resolution) and from a space-borne system (at 500 m vertical resolution and with circa 5 km integration lengths) with four tones in the upper wing of the absorption line. Deploying ground-based DAR system at high latitudes and high altitudes is highly recommended to test the findings of this work in the field.

scholarly journals Thin and subvisible cirrus and contrails in a subsaturated environment

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 5853-5865 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Kübbeler ◽  
M. Hildebrandt ◽  
J. Meyer ◽  
C. Schiller ◽  
Th. Hamburger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Size ◽  
Life Time ◽  
Cirrus Clouds ◽  
Ice Crystals ◽  
Radiative Properties ◽  
Ice Crystal ◽  
Size Spectra ◽  
Ice Clouds ◽  
Frontal Systems ◽  
Ice Crystal Size

Abstract. The frequency of occurrence of cirrus clouds and contrails, their life time, ice crystal size spectra and thus their radiative properties depend strongly on the ambient distribution of the relative humidity with respect to ice (RHice). Ice clouds do not form below a certain supersaturation and both cirrus and contrails need at least saturation conditions to persist over a longer period. Under subsaturated conditions, cirrus and contrails should dissipate. During the mid-latitude aircraft experiment CONCERT 2008 (CONtrail and Cirrus ExpeRimenT), RHice and ice crystals were measured in cirrus and contrails. Here, we present results from 2.3/1.7 h of observation in cirrus/contrails during 6 flights. Thin and subvisible cirrus with contrails embedded therein have been detected frequently in a subsaturated environment. Nevertheless, ice crystals up to radii of 50 μm and larger, but with low number densities were often observed inside the contrails as well as in the cirrus. Analysis of the meteorological situation indicates that the crystals in the contrails were entrained from the thin/subvisible cirrus clouds, which emerged in frontal systems with low updrafts. From model simulations of cirrus evaporation times it follows that such thin/subvisible cirrus can exist for time periods of a couple of hours and longer in a subsaturated environment and thus may represent a considerable part of the cirrus coverage.

Microphysical Properties of Ice Crystal Precipitation and Surface-Generated Ice Crystals in a High Alpine Environment in Switzerland

2017 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 433-453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver Schlenczek ◽  
Jacob P. Fugal ◽  
Gary Lloyd ◽  
Keith N. Bower ◽  
Thomas W. Choularton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ice Crystals ◽  
Crystal Habit ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variability ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Size Distributions ◽  
Ice Crystal ◽  
Ice Clouds ◽  
Microphysical Properties ◽  
The Individual

AbstractDuring the Cloud and Aerosol Characterization Experiment (CLACE) 2013 field campaign at the High Altitude Research Station Jungfraujoch, Switzerland, optically thin pure ice clouds and ice crystal precipitation were measured using holographic and other in situ particle instruments. For cloud particles, particle images, positions in space, concentrations, and size distributions were obtained, allowing one to extract size distributions classified by ice crystal habit. Small ice crystals occurring under conditions with a vertically thin cloud layer above and a stratocumulus layer approximately 1 km below exhibit similar properties in size and crystal habits as Antarctic/Arctic diamond dust. Also, ice crystal precipitation stemming from midlevel clouds subsequent to the diamond dust event was observed with a larger fraction of ice crystal aggregates when compared with the diamond dust. In another event, particle size distributions could be derived from mostly irregular ice crystals and aggregates, which likely originated from surface processes. These particles show a high spatial and temporal variability, and it is noted that size and habit distributions have only a weak dependence on the particle number concentration. Larger ice crystal aggregates and rosette shapes of some hundred microns in maximum dimension could be sampled as a precipitating cirrostratus cloud passed the site. The individual size distributions for each habit agree well with lognormal distributions. Fitted parameters to the size distributions are presented along with the area-derived ice water content, and the size distributions are compared with other measurements of pure ice clouds made in the Arctic and Antarctic.

scholarly journals A microphysics guide to cirrus clouds – Part 1: Cirrus types

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (21) ◽  
pp. 31537-31586 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Krämer ◽  
C. Rolf ◽  
A. Luebke ◽  
A. Afchine ◽  
N. Spelten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parameter Space ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Cirrus Clouds ◽  
Radiative Properties ◽  
Formation Mechanisms ◽  
Liquid Droplets ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Model Simulations ◽  
Microphysical Properties

Abstract. The microphysical and radiative properties of cirrus clouds continue to be beyond understanding and thus still represent one of the largest uncertainties in the prediction of the Earth's climate (IPCC, 2013). Our study aims to provide a guide to cirrus microphysics, which is compiled from an extensive set of model simulations, covering the broad range of atmospheric conditions for cirrus formation and evolution. The model results are portrayed in the same parameter space as field measurements, i.e. in the Ice Water Content-Temperature (IWC-T) parameter space. We validate this cirrus analysis approach by evaluating cirrus data sets from seventeen aircraft campaigns, conducted in the last fifteen years, spending about 94 h in cirrus over Europe, Australia, Brazil as well as Southern and Northern America. Altogether, the approach of this study is to track cirrus IWC development with temperature by means of model simulations, compare with observations and then assign, to a certain degree, cirrus microphysics to the observations. Indeed, the field observations show characteristics expected from the simulated cirrus guide. For example, high/low IWCs are found together with high/low ice crystal concentrations Nice. An important finding from our study is the classification of two types of cirrus with differing formation mechanisms and microphysical properties: the first cirrus type is rather thin with lower IWCs and forms directly as ice (in-situ origin cirrus). The second type consists predominantly of thick cirrus originating from mixed phase clouds (i.e. via freezing of liquid droplets – liquid origin cirrus), which are completely glaciated while lifting to the cirrus formation temperature region (< 235 K). In the European field campaigns, in-situ origin cirrus occur frequently at slow updrafts in low and high pressure systems, but also in conjunction with faster updrafts. Also, liquid origin cirrus mostly related to warm conveyor belts are found. In the US and tropical campaigns, thick liquid origin cirrus which are formed in large convective systems are detected more frequently.

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