Triple frequency radar retrieval of microphysical properties of snow

Abstract. An algorithm based on triple-frequency (X, Ka, W) radar measurements that retrieves the size, water content and degree of riming of ice clouds is presented. This study exploits the potential of multi-frequency radar measurements to provide information on bulk snow density that should underpin better estimates of the snow characteristic size and content within the radar volume. The algorithm is based on Bayes' rule with riming parameterized by the “fill-in” model. The radar reflectivities are simulated with a range of scattering models corresponding to realistic snowflake shapes. The algorithm is tested on multi-frequency radar data collected during the ESA-funded Radar Snow Experiment. During this campaign in-situ microphysical probes were mounted on the same airplane as the radars. This nearly perfectly collocated dataset of the remote and in-situ measurements gives an opportunity to derive a combined multi-instrument estimate of snow microphysical properties that is used for a rigorous validation of the radar retrieval. Results suggest that the triple-frequency retrieval performs well in estimating ice water content and mean-mass-weighted diameters obtaining root-mean-square-error of 0.13 and 0.15, respectively for log10 IWC and log10 Dm. The retrieval of the degree of riming is more challenging and only the algorithm that uses Doppler information obtains results that are highly correlated with the in-situ data.

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Triple-frequency radar retrieval of microphysical properties of snow

Atmospheric Measurement Techniques ◽

10.5194/amt-14-7243-2021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (11) ◽

pp. 7243-7254

Author(s):

Kamil Mroz ◽

Alessandro Battaglia ◽

Cuong Nguyen ◽

Andrew Heymsfield ◽

Alain Protat ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Content ◽

Radar Data ◽

Characteristic Size ◽

In Situ Data ◽

Microphysical Properties ◽

Triple Frequency ◽

Radar Measurements ◽

Highly Correlated ◽

Mean Square Errors

Abstract. An algorithm based on triple-frequency (X, Ka, W) radar measurements that retrieves the size, water content and degree of riming of ice clouds is presented. This study exploits the potential of multi-frequency radar measurements to provide information on bulk snow density that should underpin better estimates of the snow characteristic size and content within the radar volume. The algorithm is based on Bayes' rule with riming parameterised by the “fill-in” model. The radar reflectivities are simulated with a range of scattering models corresponding to realistic snowflake shapes. The algorithm is tested on multi-frequency radar data collected during the ESA-funded Radar Snow Experiment For Future Precipitation Mission. During this campaign, in situ microphysical probes were mounted on the same aeroplane as the radars. This nearly perfectly co-located dataset of the remote and in situ measurements gives an opportunity to derive a combined multi-instrument estimate of snow microphysical properties that is used for a rigorous validation of the radar retrieval. Results suggest that the triple-frequency retrieval performs well in estimating ice water content (IWC) and mean mass-weighted diameters obtaining root-mean-square errors of 0.13 and 0.15, respectively, for log 10IWC and log 10Dm. The retrieval of the degree of riming is more challenging, and only the algorithm that uses Doppler information obtains results that are highly correlated with the in situ data.

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Dependence of the Ice Water Content and Snowfall Rate on Temperature, Globally: Comparison of in Situ Observations, Satellite Active Remote Sensing Retrievals, and Global Climate Model Simulations

Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology ◽

10.1175/jamc-d-16-0230.1 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 56 (1) ◽

pp. 189-215 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Andrew Heymsfield ◽

Martina Krämer ◽

Norman B. Wood ◽

Andrew Gettelman ◽

Paul R. Field ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Content ◽

Global Climate ◽

Global Climate Model ◽

Ice Cloud ◽

In Situ Data ◽

Microphysical Properties ◽

Ice Water Content ◽

In Situ Observations ◽

Ice Water

AbstractCloud ice microphysical properties measured or estimated from in situ aircraft observations are compared with global climate models and satellite active remote sensor retrievals. Two large datasets, with direct measurements of the ice water content (IWC) and encompassing data from polar to tropical regions, are combined to yield a large database of in situ measurements. The intention of this study is to identify strengths and weaknesses of the various methods used to derive ice cloud microphysical properties. The in situ data are measured with total water hygrometers, condensed water probes, and particle spectrometers. Data from polar, midlatitude, and tropical locations are included. The satellite data are retrieved from CloudSat/CALIPSO [the CloudSat Ice Cloud Property Product (2C-ICE) and 2C-SNOW-PROFILE] and Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Level2A. Although the 2C-ICE retrieval is for IWC, a method to use the IWC to get snowfall rates S is developed. The GPM retrievals are for snowfall rate only. Model results are derived using the Community Atmosphere Model (CAM5) and the Met Office Unified Model [Global Atmosphere 7 (GA7)]. The retrievals and model results are related to the in situ observations using temperature and are partitioned by geographical region. Specific variables compared between the in situ observations, models, and retrievals are the IWC and S. Satellite-retrieved IWCs are reasonably close in value to the in situ observations, whereas the models’ values are relatively low by comparison. Differences between the in situ IWCs and those from the other methods are compounded when S is considered, leading to model snowfall rates that are considerably lower than those derived from the in situ data. Anomalous trends with temperature are noted in some instances.

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Evaluation of Several A-Train Ice Cloud Retrieval Products with In Situ Measurements Collected during the SPARTICUS Campaign

Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology ◽

10.1175/jamc-d-12-054.1 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 52 (4) ◽

pp. 1014-1030 ◽

Cited By ~ 89

Author(s):

Min Deng ◽

Gerald G. Mace ◽

Zhien Wang ◽

R. Paul Lawson

Keyword(s):

Water Content ◽

Detection Threshold ◽

In Situ Measurements ◽

Subtle Difference ◽

Ice Cloud ◽

In Situ Data ◽

Cloud Water Content ◽

Mass Size ◽

Ice Water

AbstractIn this study several ice cloud retrieval products that utilize active and passive A-Train measurements are evaluated using in situ data collected during the Small Particles in Cirrus (SPARTICUS) field campaign. The retrieval datasets include ice water content (IWC), effective radius re, and visible extinction σ from CloudSat level-2C ice cloud property product (2C-ICE), CloudSat level-2B radar-visible optical depth cloud water content product (2B-CWC-RVOD), radar–lidar (DARDAR), and σ from Cloud–Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO). When the discrepancies between the radar reflectivity Ze derived from 2D stereo probe (2D-S) in situ measurements and Ze measured by the CloudSat radar are less than 10 dBZe, the flight mean ratios of the retrieved IWC to the IWC estimated from in situ data are 1.12, 1.59, and 1.02, respectively for 2C-ICE, DARDAR, and 2B-CWC-RVOD. For re, the flight mean ratios are 1.05, 1.18, and 1.61, respectively. For σ, the flight mean ratios for 2C-ICE, DARDAR, and CALIPSO are 1.03, 1.42, and 0.97, respectively. The CloudSat 2C-ICE and DARDAR retrieval products are typically in close agreement. However, the use of parameterized radar signals in ice cloud volumes that are below the detection threshold of the CloudSat radar in the 2C-ICE algorithm provides an extra constraint that leads to slightly better agreement with in situ data. The differences in assumed mass–size and area–size relations between CloudSat 2C-ICE and DARDAR also contribute to some subtle difference between the datasets: re from the 2B-CWC-RVOD dataset is biased more than the other retrieval products and in situ measurements by about 40%. A slight low (negative) bias in CALIPSO σ may be due to 5-km averaging in situations in which the cirrus layers have significant horizontal gradients in σ.

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Microphysical properties and high ice water content in continental and oceanic Mescoscale Convective Systems and potential implications for commercial aircraft at flight altitude

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions ◽

10.5194/acpd-13-22535-2013 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 22535-22574

Author(s):

J.-F. Gayet ◽

V. Shcherbakov ◽

L. Bugliaro ◽

A. Protat ◽

J. Delanoë ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Content ◽

Convective Cloud ◽

Effective Radius ◽

Convective System ◽

Commercial Aircraft ◽

Microphysical Properties ◽

Maximum Reflectivity ◽

Ice Water Content ◽

Ice Water

Abstract. Two complementary case studies are conducted to analyse convective system properties in the region where strong cloud-top lidar backscatter anomalies are observed as reported by Platt et al. (2011). These anomalies were reported for the first time using in-situ microphysical measurements in an isolated continental convective cloud over Germany during the CIRCLE2 experiment (Gayet et al., 2012). In this case, quasi collocated in situ observations with CALIPSO, CloudSat and Meteosat-9/SEVIRI observations confirm that regions of backscatter anomalies represent the most active and dense convective cloud parts with likely the strongest core updrafts and unusual high values of the particle concentration, extinction and ice water content (IWC), with the occurrence of small ice crystal sizes. Similar spaceborne observations are then analyzed in a maritime mesoscale cloud system (MCS) on 20 June 2008 located off the Brazil coast between 0° and 3° N latitude. Near cloud-top backscatter anomalies are evidenced in a region which corresponds to the coldest temperatures with maximum cloud top altitudes derived from collocated CALIPSO/IIR and Meteosat-9/SEVIRI infrared brightness temperatures. The interpretation of CALIOP data highlights significant differences of microphysical properties from those observed in the continental isolated convective cloud. Indeed, SEVIRI retrievals in the visible confirm much smaller ice particles near-top of the isolated continental convective cloud, i.e. effective radius (Reff) ~15 μm against 22–27 μm in the whole MCS area. 94 GHz Cloud Profiling Radar observations from CloudSat are then used to describe the properties of the most active cloud regions at and below cloud top. The cloud ice water content and effective radius retrieved with the CloudSat 2B-IWC and DARDAR inversion techniques, show that at usual cruise altitudes of commercial aircraft (FL 350 or ~10 700 m level), high IWC (i.e. up to 2 to 4 g m−3) could be identified according to specific IWC-Z relationships. These values correspond to a maximum reflectivity factor of +18 dBZ (at 94 GHz). Near-top cloud properties also indicate signatures of microphysical characteristics according to the cloud-stage evolution as revealed by SEVIRI images to identify the development of new cells within the MCS cluster. It is argued that the availability of real time information of the km-scale cloud top IR brightness temperature decrease with respect to the cloud environment would help identify MCS cloud areas with potentially high ice water content and small particle sizes against which onboard meteorological radar may not be suitable to provide timely warning.

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Coincident In-situ and Triple-Frequency Radar Airborne Observations in the Arctic

10.5194/amt-2021-148 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Cuong M. Nguyen ◽

Mengistu Wolde ◽

Alessandro Battaglia ◽

Leonid Nichman ◽

Natalia Bliankinshtein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

National Research Council ◽

Characteristic Size ◽

The Arctic ◽

Dual Frequency ◽

Microphysical Properties ◽

Triple Frequency ◽

W Band ◽

Modelling Studies ◽

Frequency Ratios

Abstract. This paper describes X-Ka-W-band airborne radar observations and almost perfectly co-located in situ microphysical measurements on board the National Research Council Canada (NRC) Convair-580 aircraft from the Radar Snow Experiment (RadSnowExp). Over 12 hours of flight data with more than 3.4 hours in non-Rayleigh regions for at least one of the radar frequencies provide a unique opportunity for studying the relationship between cloud microphysical properties and radar dual-frequency ratios (DFR). The results from this study are consistent with the main findings of previous modelling studies with specific regions of the DFR plane associated with unique scattering properties of different ice habits, especially in riming conditions. Moreover, the datasets could be used to produce look-up-tables for retrieving cloud bulk density and characteristic size.

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Comparisons of Cloud In Situ Microphysical Properties of Deep Convective Clouds to Appendix D/P Using Data from the High-Altitude Ice Crystals-High Ice Water Content and High Ice Water Content-RADAR I Flight Campaigns

SAE International Journal of Aerospace ◽

10.4271/01-14-02-0007 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

Author(s):

John Walter Strapp ◽

Alfons Schwarzenboeck ◽

Kristopher Bedka ◽

Tom Bond ◽

Alice Calmels ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Altitude ◽

Water Content ◽

Ice Crystals ◽

Convective Clouds ◽

Microphysical Properties ◽

Deep Convective Clouds ◽

Ice Water Content ◽

Using Data ◽

Ice Water

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On the observation of unusual high concentration of small chain-like aggregate ice crystals and large ice water contents near the top of a deep convective cloud during the CIRCLE-2 experiment

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions ◽

10.5194/acpd-11-23911-2011 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 23911-23958

Author(s):

J.-F. Gayet ◽

G. Mioche ◽

L. Bugliaro ◽

A. Protat ◽

A. Minikin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Optical Properties ◽

Water Content ◽

Convective Cloud ◽

Ice Crystals ◽

Convective Clouds ◽

Microphysical Properties ◽

Ice Particles ◽

Ice Water Content ◽

Ice Water

Abstract. During the CIRCLE-2 experiment carried out over Western Europe in May 2007, combined in situ and remote sensing observations allowed to describe microphysical and optical properties near-top of an overshooting convective cloud (11 080 m/−58 °C). The airborne measurements were performed with the DLR Falcon aircraft specially equipped with a unique set of instruments for the extensive in situ cloud measurements of microphysical and optical properties (Polar Nephelometer, FSSP-300, Cloud Particle Imager and PMS 2D-C) and nadir looking remote sensing observations (DLR WALES Lidar). Quasi-simultaneous space observations from MSG/SEVIRI, CALIPSO/CALIOP-WFC-IIR and CloudSat/CPR combined with airborne RASTA radar reflectivity from the French Falcon aircraft flying above the DLR Falcon depict very well convective cells which overshoot by up to 600 m the tropopause level. Unusual high values of the concentration of small ice particles, extinction, ice water content (up to 70 cm−3, 30 km−1 and 0.5 g m−3, respectively) are experienced. This very dense cloud causes a strong attenuation of the WALES and CALIOP lidar returns. The mean effective diameter is of 43 μm and the maximum particle size is about 300 μm. The SEVIRI retrieved parameters confirm the occurrence of small ice crystals at the top of the convective cell. Smooth and featureless phase functions with asymmetry factors of 0.776 indicate fairly uniform optical properties. Due to small ice crystals the power-law relationship between ice water content (IWC) and radar reflectivity appears to be very different from those usually found in cirrus and anvil clouds. For a given equivalent reflectivity factor, IWCs are significantly larger for the overshooting cell than for the cirrus. Assuming the same prevalent microphysical properties over the depth of the overshooting cell, RASTA reflectivity profiles scaled into ice water content show that retrieved IWC up to 1 g m−3 may be observed near the cloud top. Extrapolating the relationship for stronger convective clouds with similar ice particles, IWC up to 5 g m−3 could be experienced with reflectivity factors no larger than about 20 dBZ. This means that for similar situations, indication of rather weak radar echo does not necessarily warn the occurrence of high ice water content carried by small ice crystals. All along the cloud penetration the shape of the ice crystals is dominated by chain-like aggregates of frozen droplets. Our results confirm previous observations that the chains of ice crystals are found in a continental deep convective systems which are known generally to generate intense electric fields causing efficient ice particle aggregation processes. Vigorous updrafts could lift supercooled droplets which are frozen extremely rapidly by homogeneous nucleation near the −37 °C level, producing therefore high concentrations of very small ice particles at upper altitudes. They are sufficient to deplete the water vapour and suppress further nucleation as confirmed by humidity measurements. These observations address scientific issues related to the microphysical properties and structure of deep convective clouds and confirm that particles smaller than 50 μm may control the radiative properties in convective-related clouds. These unusual observations may also provide some possible insights regarding engineering issues related to the failure of jet engines commonly used on commercial aircraft during flights through areas of high ice water content.

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Microphysical properties and high ice water content in continental and oceanic mesoscale convective systems and potential implications for commercial aircraft at flight altitude

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ◽

10.5194/acp-14-899-2014 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 899-912 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

J.-F. Gayet ◽

V. Shcherbakov ◽

L. Bugliaro ◽

A. Protat ◽

J. Delanoë ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Content ◽

Convective Cloud ◽

Effective Radius ◽

Convective System ◽

Commercial Aircraft ◽

Microphysical Properties ◽

Ice Water Content ◽

Ice Water ◽

Reflectivity Factor

Abstract. Two complementary case studies are conducted to analyse convective system properties in the region where strong cloud-top lidar backscatter anomalies are observed as reported by Platt et al. (2011). These anomalies were reported for the first time using in situ microphysical measurements in an isolated continental convective cloud over Germany during the CIRCLE2 experiment (Gayet et al., 2012). In this case, in situ observations quasi-collocated with CALIPSO (Cloud Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation), CloudSat and Meteosat-9/SEVIRI observations confirm that regions of backscatter anomalies represent the most active and dense convective cloud parts with likely the strongest core updrafts and unusually high values of the particle concentration, extinction and ice water content (IWC), with the occurrence of small ice crystal sizes. Similar spaceborne observations of a maritime mesoscale cloud system (MCS) located off the Brazilian coast between 0° and 3° N latitude on 20 June 2008 are then analysed. Near cloud-top backscatter anomalies are evidenced in a region which corresponds to the coldest temperatures with maximum cloud top altitudes derived from collocated CALIPSO/IIR and Meteosat-9/SEVIRI infrared brightness temperatures. The interpretation of CALIOP (Cloud Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization) data highlights significant differences in microphysical properties from those observed in the continental isolated convective cloud. Indeed, SEVIRI (Spinning Enhanced Visible and InfraRed Imager) retrievals in the visible spectrum confirm much smaller ice particles near the top of the isolated continental convective cloud, i.e. effective radius (Reff) ~ 15 μm as opposed to 22–27 μm in the whole MCS area. Cloud profiling observations at 94 GHz from CloudSat are then used to describe the properties of the most active cloud regions at and below cloud top. The cloud ice-water content and effective radius retrieved with the CloudSat 2B-IWC and DARDAR (raDAR/liDAR) inversion techniques, show that at usual cruise altitudes of commercial aircraft (FL 350 or ~ 10 700 m level), high IWC (i.e. up to 2 to 4 g m−3) could be identified according to specific IWC–Z (Z being the reflectivity factor) relationships. These values correspond to a maximum reflectivity factor of +18 dBZ (at 94 GHz). Near-top cloud properties also indicate signatures of microphysical characteristics according to the cloud-stage evolution as revealed by SEVIRI images to identify the development of new cells within the MCS cluster. It is argued that the availability of real-time information (on the kilometre-scale) about cloud top IR brightness temperature decreases with respect to the cloud environment would help identify MCS cloud areas with potentially high ice water content and small particle sizes against which onboard meteorological radars may not be able to provide timely warning.

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On the observation of unusual high concentration of small chain-like aggregate ice crystals and large ice water contents near the top of a deep convective cloud during the CIRCLE-2 experiment

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ◽

10.5194/acp-12-727-2012 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 727-744 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

J.-F. Gayet ◽

G. Mioche ◽

L. Bugliaro ◽

A. Protat ◽

A. Minikin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Optical Properties ◽

Water Content ◽

Convective Cloud ◽

Ice Crystals ◽

Convective Clouds ◽

Microphysical Properties ◽

Ice Particles ◽

Ice Water Content ◽

Ice Water

Abstract. During the CIRCLE-2 experiment carried out over Western Europe in May 2007, combined in situ and remote sensing observations allowed to describe microphysical and optical properties near-top of an overshooting convective cloud (11 080 m/−58 °C). The airborne measurements were performed with the DLR Falcon aircraft specially equipped with a unique set of instruments for the extensive in situ cloud measurements of microphysical and optical properties (Polar Nephelometer, FSSP-300, Cloud Particle Imager and PMS 2-D-C) and nadir looking remote sensing observations (DLR WALES Lidar). Quasi-simultaneous space observations from MSG/SEVIRI, CALIPSO/CALIOP-WFC-IIR and CloudSat/CPR combined with airborne RASTA radar reflectivity from the French Falcon aircraft flying above the DLR Falcon depict very well convective cells which overshoot by up to 600 m the tropopause level. Unusual high values of the concentration of small ice particles, extinction, ice water content (up to 70 cm−3, 30 km−1 and 0.5 g m−3, respectively) are experienced. The mean effective diameter and the maximum particle size are 43 μm and about 300 μm, respectively. This very dense cloud causes a strong attenuation of the WALES and CALIOP lidar returns. The SEVIRI retrieved parameters confirm the occurrence of small ice crystals at the top of the convective cell. Smooth and featureless phase functions with asymmetry factors of 0.776 indicate fairly uniform optical properties. Due to small ice crystals the power-law relationship between ice water content (IWC) and radar reflectivity appears to be very different from those usually found in cirrus and anvil clouds. For a given equivalent reflectivity factor, IWCs are significantly larger for the overshooting cell than for the cirrus. Assuming the same prevalent microphysical properties over the depth of the overshooting cell, RASTA reflectivity profiles scaled into ice water content show that retrieved IWC up to 1 g m−3 may be observed near the cloud top. Extrapolating the relationship for stronger convective clouds with similar ice particles, IWC up to 5 g m−3 could be experienced with reflectivity factors no larger than about 20 dBZ. This means that for similar situations, indication of rather weak radar echo does not necessarily warn the occurrence of high ice water content carried by small ice crystals. All along the cloud penetration the shape of the ice crystals is dominated by chain-like aggregates of frozen droplets. Our results confirm previous observations that the chains of ice crystals are found in a continental deep convective systems which are known generally to generate intense electric fields causing efficient ice particle aggregation processes. Vigorous updrafts could lift supercooled droplets which are frozen extremely rapidly by homogeneous nucleation near the −37 °C level, producing therefore high concentrations of very small ice particles at upper altitudes. They are sufficient to deplete the water vapour and suppress further nucleation as confirmed by humidity measurements. These observations address scientific issues related to the microphysical properties and structure of deep convective clouds and confirm that particles smaller than 50 μm may control the radiative properties in convective-related clouds. These unusual observations may also provide some possible insights regarding engineering issues related to the failure of jet engines commonly used on commercial aircraft during flights through areas of high ice water content. However, large uncertainties of the measured and derived parameters limit our observations.

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