scholarly journals Distributions and radiative forcings of various cloud types based on active and passive satellite datasets – Part 1: Geographical distributions and overlap of cloud types

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 10463-10514
Author(s):  
J. Li ◽  
J. Huang ◽  
K. Stamnes ◽  
T. Wang ◽  
Y. Yi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Warm Pool ◽  
Cloud Fraction ◽  
Central Pacific ◽  
Radiative Forcings ◽  
Central Pacific Ocean ◽  
Cloud Classification ◽  
Vertical Distributions ◽  
Different Seasons ◽  
High Clouds ◽  
Classification Product

Abstract. Based on four year' 2B-CLDCLASS-Lidar (Radar-Lidar) cloud classification product from CloudSat, we analyze the geographical distributions of different cloud types and their co-occurrence frequency across different seasons, moreover, utilize the vertical distributions of cloud type to further evaluate the cloud overlap assumptions. The statistical results show that more high clouds, altocumulus, stratocumulus or stratus and cumulus are identified in the Radar-Lidar cloud classification product compared to previous results from Radar-only cloud classification (2B-CLDCLASS product from CloudSat). In particularly, high clouds and cumulus cloud fractions increased by factors 2.5 and 4–7, respectively. The new results are in more reasonable agreement with other datasets (typically the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) and surface observer reports). Among the cloud types, altostratus and altocumulus are more popular over the arid/semi-arid land areas of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, respectively. These features weren't observed by using the ISCCP D1 dataset. For co-occurrence of cloud types, high cloud, altostratus, altocumulus and cumulus are much more likely to co-exist with other cloud types. However, stratus/stratocumulus, nimbostratus and convective clouds are much more likely to exhibit individual features. After considering the co-occurrence of cloud types, the cloud fraction based on the random overlap assumption is underestimated over the vast ocean except in the west-central Pacific Ocean warm pool. Obvious overestimations are mainly occurring over land areas in the tropics and subtropics. The investigation therefore indicates that incorporate co-occurrence information of cloud types based on Radar-Lidar cloud classification into the overlap assumption schemes used in the current GCMs possible be able to provide an better predictions for vertically projected total cloud fraction.

scholarly journals A global survey of cloud overlap based on CALIPSO and CloudSat measurements

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 519-536 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Li ◽  
J. Huang ◽  
K. Stamnes ◽  
T. Wang ◽  
Q. Lv ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
Vertical Motion ◽  
Warm Pool ◽  
Central Pacific ◽  
Cloud Systems ◽  
Central Pacific Ocean ◽  
Convective Clouds ◽  
Vertical Distributions ◽  
Global Mean

Abstract. Using 2B-CLDCLASS-LIDAR (radar–lidar) cloud classification and 2B-FLXHR-LIDAR radiation products from CloudSat over 4 years, this study evaluates the co-occurrence frequencies of different cloud types, analyzes their along-track horizontal scales and cloud radiative effects (CREs), and utilizes the vertical distributions of cloud types to evaluate cloud-overlap assumptions. The statistical results show that high clouds, altostratus (As), altocumulus (Ac) and cumulus (Cu) tend to coexist with other cloud types. However, stratus (St) (or stratocumulus, Sc), nimbostratus (Ns) and convective clouds are much more likely to exhibit individual features than other cloud types. On average, altostratus-over-stratus/stratocumulus cloud systems have a maximum horizontal scale of 17.4 km, with a standard deviation of 23.5 km. Altocumulus-over-cumulus cloud types have a minimum scale of 2.8 km, with a standard deviation of 3.1 km. By considering the weight of each multilayered cloud type, we find that the global mean instantaneous net CREs of multilayered cloud systems during the daytime are approximately −41.3 and −50.2 W m−2, which account for 40.1 and 42.3% of the global mean total net CREs at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) and at the surface, respectively. The radiative contributions of high-over-altocumulus and high-over-stratus/stratocumulus (or cumulus) in the all multilayered cloud systems are dominant due to their frequency. Considering the overlap of cloud types, the cloud fraction based on the random overlap assumption is underestimated over vast oceans, except in the west-central Pacific Ocean warm pool. Obvious overestimations mainly occur over tropical and subtropical land masses. In view of a lower degree of overlap than that predicted by the random overlap assumption to occur over the vast ocean, particularly poleward of 40° S, the study therefore suggests that a linear combination of minimum and random overlap assumptions may further improve the predictions of actual cloud fractions for multilayered cloud types (e.g., As + St/Sc and Ac + St/Sc) over the Southern Ocean. The establishment of a statistical relationship between multilayered cloud types and the environmental conditions (e.g., atmospheric vertical motion, convective stability and wind shear) would be useful for parameterization design of cloud overlap in numerical models.

scholarly journals Phenomenological Description of Tropical Clouds Using CloudSat Cloud Classification

2012 ◽  
Vol 140 (10) ◽  
pp. 3235-3249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Behrangi ◽  
Terry Kubar ◽  
Bjorn Lambrigtsen
Keyword(s):  
Deep Convection ◽  
Early Morning ◽  
Cloud Fraction ◽  
Cumulus Clouds ◽  
Convective Clouds ◽  
Cloud Classification ◽  
Low Clouds ◽  
Tropical Deep Convection ◽  
Low Cloud ◽  
High Clouds

Abstract Two years of tropical oceanic cloud observations are analyzed using the operational CloudSat cloud classification product and Cloud–Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) lidar. Relationships are examined between cloud types, sea surface temperature (SST), and location during the CloudSat early morning and afternoon overpasses. Based on CloudSat and combined lidar–radar products, the maximum and minimum cloud fractions occur at SSTs near 303 and 299 K, respectively, corresponding to deep convective/detrained cloud populations and the transition from shallow to deep convection. For SSTs below approximately 301 K, low clouds (stratiform and stratocumulus) are dominant (cloud fraction between 0.15 and 0.37) whereas high clouds are dominant for SSTs greater than about 301 K (cloud fraction between 0.18 and 0.28). Consistent with previous studies, most tropical low clouds are associated with lower SSTs, with a strong inverse linear relationship between low cloud frequency and SST. For all cloud types except nimbostratus, stratus, and stratocumulus, a sharp increase in frequency of occurrence is observed for SSTs between 299 and 300.5 K, deduced as the onset of deeper convection. Peak fractions of high, deep convective, altostratus, and altocumulus clouds occur at SSTs close to 303 K, while cumulus clouds, which have lower tops, show a smooth cloud fractional peak about 2° cooler. Deep convective and other high cloud types decrease sharply above SSTs of 303 K, in accordance with previous work suggesting a narrow window of tropical deep convection. Finally, significant cloud frequency differences exist between CloudSat early morning and afternoon overpasses, suggesting a diurnal cycle of some cloud types, particularly stratocumulus, high, and deep convective clouds.

scholarly journals Primary Production in the Water Column as Major Structuring Element of the Biogeographical Distribution and Function of Archaea in Deep-Sea Sediments of the Central Pacific Ocean

Archaea ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franziska Wemheuer ◽  
Avril Jean Elisabeth von Hoyningen-Huene ◽  
Marion Pohlner ◽  
Julius Degenhardt ◽  
Bert Engelen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Primary Production ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
Archaeal Community ◽  
Central Pacific ◽  
Central Pacific Ocean ◽  
Deep Sea Sediments ◽  
And Function ◽  
Functional Profiles ◽  
Archaeal Communities

Information on environmental conditions shaping archaeal communities thriving at the seafloor of the central Pacific Ocean is limited. The present study was conducted to investigate the diversity, composition, and function of both entire and potentially active archaeal communities within Pacific deep-sea sediments. For this purpose, sediment samples were taken along the 180° meridian of the central Pacific Ocean. Community composition and diversity were assessed by Illumina tag sequencing targeting archaeal 16S rRNA genes and transcripts. Archaeal communities were dominated by CandidatusNitrosopumilus(Thaumarchaeota) and other members of theNitrosopumilaceae(Thaumarchaeota), but higher relative abundances of the Marine Group II (Euryarchaeota) were observed in the active compared to the entire archaeal community. The composition of the entire and the active archaeal communities was strongly linked to primary production (chlorophyll content), explaining more than 40% of the variance. Furthermore, we found a strong correlation of the entire archaeal community composition to latitude and silicic acid content, while the active community was significantly correlated with primary production and ferric oxide content. We predicted functional profiles from 16S rRNA data to assess archaeal community functions. Latitude was significantly correlated with functional profiles of the entire community, whereas those of the active community were significantly correlated with nitrate and chlorophyll content. The results of the present study provide first insights into benthic archaeal communities in the Pacific Ocean and environmental conditions shaping their diversity, distribution, and function. Additionally, they might serve as a template for further studies investigating archaea colonizing deep-sea sediments.

The Birds of Fanning Island, Central Pacific Ocean

The Condor ◽  
1925 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 185-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harold Kirby,
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Central Pacific ◽  
Central Pacific Ocean

scholarly journals Global atmospheric chemistry – which air matters

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (14) ◽  
pp. 9081-9102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Prather ◽  
Xin Zhu ◽  
Clare M. Flynn ◽  
Sarah A. Strode ◽  
Jose M. Rodriguez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Chemistry ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Ocean Basin ◽  
Central Pacific ◽  
Central Pacific Ocean ◽  
Methane Budget ◽  
As Species ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Key Species ◽  
Probability Densities

Abstract. An approach for analysis and modeling of global atmospheric chemistry is developed for application to measurements that provide a tropospheric climatology of those heterogeneously distributed, reactive species that control the loss of methane and the production and loss of ozone. We identify key species (e.g., O3, NOx, HNO3, HNO4, C2H3NO5, H2O, HOOH, CH3OOH, HCHO, CO, CH4, C2H6, acetaldehyde, acetone) and presume that they can be measured simultaneously in air parcels on the scale of a few km horizontally and a few tenths of a km vertically. As a first step, six global models have prepared such climatologies sampled at the modeled resolution for August with emphasis on the vast central Pacific Ocean basin. Objectives of this paper are to identify and characterize differences in model-generated reactivities as well as species covariances that could readily be discriminated with an unbiased climatology. A primary tool is comparison of multidimensional probability densities of key species weighted by the mass of such parcels or frequency of occurrence as well as by the reactivity of the parcels with respect to methane and ozone. The reactivity-weighted probabilities tell us which parcels matter in this case, and this method shows skill in differentiating among the models' chemistry. Testing 100 km scale models with 2 km measurements using these tools also addresses a core question about model resolution and whether fine-scale atmospheric structures matter to the overall ozone and methane budget. A new method enabling these six global chemistry–climate models to ingest an externally sourced climatology and then compute air parcel reactivity is demonstrated. Such an objective climatology containing these key species is anticipated from the NASA Atmospheric Tomography (ATom) aircraft mission (2015–2020), executing profiles over the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean basins. This modeling study addresses a core part of the design of ATom.

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