scholarly journals Ground-based retrieval of continental and marine warm cloud microphysics

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 4825-4865 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Martucci ◽  
C. D. O'Dowd
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Microwave Radiometer ◽  
Cloud Microphysics ◽  
Effective Radius ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Marine Stratocumulus ◽  
Adiabatic Conditions ◽  
Warm Cloud ◽  
Marine Air

Abstract. A technique for retrieving warm cloud microphysics using synergistic ground based remote sensing instruments is presented. The SYRSOC (SYnergistic Remote Sensing Of Cloud) technique utilises a Ka-band Doppler cloud RADAR, a LIDAR-ceilometer and a multichannel microwave radiometer. SYRSOC retrieves the main microphysical parameters such as cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC), droplets effective radius (reff), cloud liquid water content (LWC), and the departure from adiabatic conditions within the cloud. Two retrievals are presented for continental and marine stratocumulus formed over the Mace Head Atmospheric Research Station. Whilst the continental case exhibited high CDCN (N = 382 cm−3; 10th-to-90th percentile [9.4–842.4] cm−3) and small mean effective radius (reff = 4.3; 10th-to-90th percentile [2.9–6.5] μm), the marine case exhibited low CDNC and large mean effective radius (N = 25 cm−3, 10th-to-90th percentile [1.5–69] cm−3; reff = 25.6 μm, 10th-to-90th percentile [11.2–42.7] μm) as expected since the continental air at this location is typically more polluted than marine air. The large reff of the marine case was determined by the contribution of drizzle drops (large radii and few occurrences) and in fact the modal radius was reffMOD = 12 μm (smaller radius and large occurrences). The mean LWC was comparable for the two cases (continental: 0.19 g m−3; marine: 0.16 g m–3) but the 10th–90th percentile range was wider in marine air (continental: 0.11–0.22 g m−3; marine: 0.01–0.38 g m−3). The calculated algorithm uncertainty for the continental and marine case for each variable was, respectively, σN=141.34 cm−3 and 11.5 cm−3, σreff=0.8 μm and 3.2 μm, σLWC = 0.03 g m−3 and 0.03 g m−3. The retrieved CDNC are compared to the cloud condensation nuclei concentrations and the best agreement is achieved for a super-saturation of 0.1 % in the continental case and between 0.1 %–0.75 % for the marine stratocumulus. The retrieved reff at the top of the clouds are compared to the MODIS satellite reff: 7 μm (MODIS) vs 6.2 μm (SYRSOC) and 16.3 μm (MODIS) vs. 17 μm (SYRSOC) for continental and marine cases, respectively. The combined analysis of the CDNC and the reff, for the marine case shows that the drizzle modifies the droplet size distribution and reff especially if compared to reffMOD. The study of the cloud subadiabaticity and the LWC shows the general sub-adiabatic character of both clouds with more pronounced departure from adiabatic conditions in the continental case due to the shallower cloud depth and more significant mixing with dry tropospheric air.

scholarly journals Ground-based retrieval of continental and marine warm cloud microphysics

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (12) ◽  
pp. 2749-2765 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Martucci ◽  
C. D. O'Dowd
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Microwave Radiometer ◽  
Cloud Microphysics ◽  
Effective Radius ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Marine Stratocumulus ◽  
Adiabatic Conditions ◽  
Warm Cloud ◽  
Marine Air

Abstract. A technique for retrieving warm cloud microphysics using synergistic ground based remote sensing instruments is presented. The SYRSOC (SYnergistic Remote Sensing Of Cloud) technique utilises a Ka-band Doppler cloud RADAR, a LIDAR (or ceilometer) and a multichannel microwave radiometer. SYRSOC retrieves the main microphysical parameters such as cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC), droplets effective radius (reff), cloud liquid water content (LWC), and the departure from adiabatic conditions within the cloud. Two retrievals are presented for continental and marine stratocumulus advected over the Mace Head Atmospheric Research Station. Whilst the continental case exhibited high CDCN (N = 382 cm−3; 10th-to-90th percentile [9.4–842.4] cm−3) and small mean effective radius (reff = 4.3; 10th-to-90th percentile [2.9–6.5] μm), the marine case showed low CDNC and large mean effective radius (N = 25 cm−3, 10th-to-90th percentile [1.5–69] cm−3; reff = 28.4 μm, 10th-to-90th percentile [11.2–42.7] μm) as expected since continental air at this location is typically more polluted than marine air. The mean LWC was comparable for the two cases (continental: 0.19 g m−3; marine: 0.16 g m−3) but the 10th–90th percentile range was wider in marine air (continental: 0.11–0.22 g m−3; marine: 0.01–0.38 g m−3). The calculated algorithm uncertainty for the continental and marine case for each variable was, respectively, σN = 161.58 cm−3 and 12.2 cm−3, σreff = 0.86 μm and 5.6 μm, σLWC = 0.03 g m−3 and 0.04 g m−3. The retrieved CDNC are compared to the cloud condensation nuclei concentrations and the best agreement is achieved for a supersaturation of 0.1% in the continental case and between 0.1%–0.75% for the marine stratocumulus. The retrieved reff at the top of the clouds are compared to the MODIS satellite reff: 7 μm (MODIS) vs. 6.2 μm (SYRSOC) and 16.3 μm (MODIS) vs. 17 μm (SYRSOC) for continental and marine cases, respectively. The combined analysis of the CDNC and the reff, for the marine case shows that the drizzle modifies the droplet size distribution and reff especially if compared to reffMOD. The study of the cloud subadiabaticity and the LWC shows the general sub-adiabatic character of both clouds with more pronounced departure from adiabatic conditions in the continental case than in the marine.

scholarly journals Remote sensing the vertical profile of cloud droplet effective radius, thermodynamic phase, and temperature

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (18) ◽  
pp. 9485-9501 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. V. Martins ◽  
A. Marshak ◽  
L. A. Remer ◽  
D. Rosenfeld ◽  
Y. J. Kaufman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Energy Balance ◽  
Brightness Temperature ◽  
Vertical Profile ◽  
Water Cycle ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Cloud Droplet ◽  
Cloud Microphysics ◽  
Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Thermodynamic Phase

Abstract. Cloud-aerosol interaction is a key issue in the climate system, affecting the water cycle, the weather, and the total energy balance including the spatial and temporal distribution of latent heat release. Information on the vertical distribution of cloud droplet microphysics and thermodynamic phase as a function of temperature or height, can be correlated with details of the aerosol field to provide insight on how these particles are affecting cloud properties and their consequences to cloud lifetime, precipitation, water cycle, and general energy balance. Unfortunately, today's experimental methods still lack the observational tools that can characterize the true evolution of the cloud microphysical, spatial and temporal structure in the cloud droplet scale, and then link these characteristics to environmental factors and properties of the cloud condensation nuclei. Here we propose and demonstrate a new experimental approach (the cloud scanner instrument) that provides the microphysical information missed in current experiments and remote sensing options. Cloud scanner measurements can be performed from aircraft, ground, or satellite by scanning the side of the clouds from the base to the top, providing us with the unique opportunity of obtaining snapshots of the cloud droplet microphysical and thermodynamic states as a function of height and brightness temperature in clouds at several development stages. The brightness temperature profile of the cloud side can be directly associated with the thermodynamic phase of the droplets to provide information on the glaciation temperature as a function of different ambient conditions, aerosol concentration, and type. An aircraft prototype of the cloud scanner was built and flew in a field campaign in Brazil. The CLAIM-3D (3-Dimensional Cloud Aerosol Interaction Mission) satellite concept proposed here combines several techniques to simultaneously measure the vertical profile of cloud microphysics, thermodynamic phase, brightness temperature, and aerosol amount and type in the neighborhood of the clouds. The wide wavelength range, and the use of multi-angle polarization measurements proposed for this mission allow us to estimate the availability and characteristics of aerosol particles acting as cloud condensation nuclei, and their effects on the cloud microphysical structure. These results can provide unprecedented details on the response of cloud droplet microphysics to natural and anthropogenic aerosols in the size scale where the interaction really happens.

scholarly journals Aerosol properties associated with air masses arriving into the North East Atlantic during the 2008 Mace Head EUCAARI intensive observing period: an overview

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (17) ◽  
pp. 8413-8435 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Dall'Osto ◽  
D. Ceburnis ◽  
G. Martucci ◽  
J. Bialek ◽  
R. Dupuy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Cloud Microphysics ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Hygroscopic Growth ◽  
Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
North East ◽  
Marine Air ◽  
Aerosol Properties

Abstract. As part of the EUCAARI Intensive Observing Period, a 4-week campaign to measure aerosol physical, chemical and optical properties, atmospheric structure, and cloud microphysics was conducted from mid-May to mid-June, 2008 at the Mace Head Atmospheric Research Station, located at the interface of Western Europe and the N. E. Atlantic and centered on the west Irish coastline. During the campaign, continental air masses comprising both young and aged continental plumes were encountered, along with polar, Arctic and tropical air masses. Polluted-continental aerosol concentrations were of the order of 3000 cm−3, while background marine air aerosol concentrations were between 400–600 cm−3. The highest marine air concentrations occurred in polar air masses in which a 15 nm nucleation mode, with concentration of 1100 cm−3, was observed and attributed to open ocean particle formation. Continental air submicron chemical composition (excluding refractory sea salt) was dominated by organic matter, closely followed by sulphate mass. Although the concentrations and size distribution spectral shape were almost identical for the young and aged continental cases, hygroscopic growth factors (GF) and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) to total condensation nuclei (CN) concentration ratios were significantly less in the younger pollution plume, indicating a more oxidized organic component to the aged continental plume. The difference in chemical composition and hygroscopic growth factor appear to result in a 40–50% impact on aerosol scattering coefficients and Aerosol Optical Depth, despite almost identical aerosol microphysical properties in both cases, with the higher values been recorded for the more aged case. For the CCN/CN ratio, the highest ratios were seen in the more age plume. In marine air, sulphate mass dominated the sub-micron component, followed by water soluble organic carbon, which, in turn, was dominated by methanesulphonic acid (MSA). Sulphate concentrations were highest in marine tropical air – even higher than in continental air. MSA was present at twice the concentrations of previously-reported concentrations at the same location and the same season. Both continental and marine air exhibited aerosol GFs significantly less than ammonium sulphate aerosol pointing to a significant organic contribution to all air mass aerosol properties.

scholarly journals Remote sensing the vertical profile of cloud droplet effective radius, thermodynamic phase, and temperature

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 4481-4519 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Vanderlei Martins ◽  
A. Marshak ◽  
L. A. Remer ◽  
D. Rosenfeld ◽  
Y. J. Kaufman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Energy Balance ◽  
Brightness Temperature ◽  
Vertical Profile ◽  
Water Cycle ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Cloud Droplet ◽  
Cloud Microphysics ◽  
Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Thermodynamic Phase

Abstract. Cloud-aerosol interaction is no longer simply a radiative problem, but one affecting the water cycle, the weather, and the total energy balance including the spatial and temporal distribution of latent heat release. Information on the vertical distribution of cloud droplet microphysics and thermodynamic phase as a function of temperature or height, can be correlated with details of the aerosol field to provide insight on how these particles are affecting cloud properties and its consequences to cloud lifetime, precipitation, water cycle, and general energy balance. Unfortunately, today's experimental methods still lack the observational tools that can characterize the true evolution of the cloud microphysical, spatial and temporal structure in the cloud droplet scale, and then link these characteristics to environmental factors and properties of the cloud condensation nuclei. Here we propose and demonstrate a new experimental approach (the cloud scanner instrument) that provides the microphysical information missed in current experiments and remote sensing options. Cloud scanner measurements can be performed from aircraft, ground, or satellite by scanning the side of the clouds from the base to the top, providing us with the unique opportunity of obtaining snapshots of the cloud droplet microphysical and thermodynamic states as a function of height and brightness temperature in clouds at several development stages. The brightness temperature profile of the cloud side can be directly associated with the thermodynamic phase of the droplets to provide information on the glaciation temperature as a function of different ambient conditions, aerosol concentration, and type. An aircraft prototype of the cloud scanner was built and flew in a field campaign in Brazil. The CLAIM-3D (3-Dimensional Cloud Aerosol Interaction Mission) satellite concept proposed here combines several techniques to simultaneously measure the vertical profile of cloud microphysics, thermodynamic phase, brightness temperature, and aerosol amount and type in the neighborhood of the clouds. The wide wavelength range, and the use of mutli-angle polarization measurements proposed for this mission allow us to estimate the availability and characteristics of aerosol particles acting as cloud condensation nuclei, and their effects on the cloud microphysical structure. These results can provide unprecedented details on the response of cloud droplet microphysics to natural and anthropogenic aerosols in the size scale where the interaction really happens.

scholarly journals Aerosol properties associated with air masses arriving into the North East Atlantic during the 2008 Mace Head EUCAARI intensive observing period: an overview

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 26265-26328 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Dall'Osto ◽  
D. Ceburnis ◽  
G. Martucci ◽  
J. Bialek ◽  
R. Dupuy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Cloud Microphysics ◽  
Sea Salt ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Hygroscopic Growth ◽  
Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Marine Air ◽  
Aerosol Properties

Abstract. As part of the EUCAARI Intensive Observing Period, a 4-week campaign to measure aerosol physical, chemical and optical properties, atmospheric structure, and cloud microphysics was conducted from mid-May to mid-June 2008 at the Mace Head Atmospheric Research Station, located at the interface of Western Europe and the NE Atlantic and centered on the west Irish coastline. During the campaign, continental air masses comprising both young and aged continental plumes were encountered, along with polar, Arctic and tropical air masses. Polluted-continental aerosol concentrations were of the order of 3000 cm−3, while background marine air aerosol concentrations were between 400–600 cm−3. The highest marine air concentrations occurred in polar air masses in which a 15 nm nucleation mode, with concentration of 1100 cm−3, was observed and attributed to open ocean particle formation. Black carbon concentrations in polluted air were between 300–400 ng m−3, and in clean marine air were less than 50 ng m−3. Continental air submicron chemical composition (excluding refractory sea salt) was dominated by organic matter, closely followed by sulphate mass. Although the concentrations and size distribution spectral shape were almost identical for the young and aged continental cases, hygroscopic growth factors (GF) and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) to total condensation nuclei (CN) concentration ratios were significantly less in the younger pollution plume, indicating a more oxidized organic component to the aged continental plume. The difference in chemical composition and hygroscopic growth factor appear to result in a 40–50% impact on aerosol scattering coefficients and Aerosol Optical Depth, despite almost identical aerosol microphysical properties in both cases, with the higher values been recorded for the more aged case. For the CCN/CN ratio, the highest ratios were seen in the more age plume. In marine air, sulphate mass dominated the sub-micron component, followed by water soluble organic carbon, which, in turn, was dominated by methanesulphonic acid (MSA). Sulphate concentrations were highest in marine tropical air – even higher than in continental air. MSA was present at twice the concentrations of previously-reported concentrations at the same location and the same season. Both continental and marine air exhibited aerosol GFs significantly less than ammonium sulphate and even less in terms of sea salt aerosol pointing to a significant organic contribution to all air mass aerosol properties.

DACAPO-PESO: Remote Sensing and In-situ Observations in Sub-Antarctica (53°S,71°W) to Enhance the Understanding of Aerosol-Moisture-Cloud-Precipitation Interaction

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heike Kalesse ◽  
Patric Seifert ◽  
Martin Radenz ◽  
Johannes Bühl ◽  
Teresa Vogl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Microwave Radiometer ◽  
Shortwave Radiation ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Climate Modelling ◽  
Aerosol Cloud ◽  
In Situ Observations

<p>The southern midlatitudes and Sub-Antarctica are a key region for the Earth’s climate and a source for uncertainties in climate modelling. The low concentration of ice nucleating particles is considered to diminish the efficiency of heterogeneous ice formation. Climate models underestimate the supercooled liquid water content which causes shortwave radiation biases.</p><p>The project DACAPO-PESO (Dynamics, Aerosol, Cloud And Precipitation Observations in the Pristine Environment of the Southern Ocean) which is being conducted in Punta Arenas (53°S, 71°W), Chile from Nov 2018 – March 2020 is endorsed by YOPP (Year of Polar Prediction) and fills an observational gap in the Southern Oceans, for which to date hardly any combined observations of lidar, cloud radar and microwave radiometer are available.</p><p>During that field experiment, LACROS (Leipzig Aerosol and Cloud Remote Observations System) of Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) which comprises numerous remote sensing instruments, including multi-wavelength polarization Raman lidar, cloud radars, microwave radiometer, radiation sensors among others is deployed. From March 2019 onwards, additionally in-situ observations of the INP and cloud condensation nuclei properties were collected by TROPOS on a 623m high mountain 10 km upwind of the LACROS site. Meso-scale numerical modeling will provide support for interpretation of the results.</p><p>The presentation will be dedicated to</p><ol><li>a) provide an overview of the setup of DACAPO-PESO</li> <li>b) show case studies of how instrument synergies are used to characterize aerosol-cloud-interaction processes in the pristine atmosphere over Punta Arenas and</li> <li>c) show a case study of an Atmospheric River event which was also observed in Antarctica.</li> </ol>

Single Aircraft Integration of Remote Sensing and In Situ Sampling for the Study of Cloud Microphysics and Dynamics

2012 ◽  
Vol 93 (5) ◽  
pp. 653-668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhien Wang ◽  
Jeffrey French ◽  
Gabor Vali ◽  
Perry Wechsler ◽  
Samuel Haimov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Microwave Radiometer ◽  
Cloud Microphysics ◽  
In Situ Data ◽  
Microphysical Properties ◽  
Remote Sensor ◽  
Combined Use ◽  
The University

Clouds are a critical component of the Earth's coupled water and energy cycles. Poor understanding of cloud–radiation–dynamics feedbacks results in large uncertainties in forecasting human-induced climate changes. Better understanding of cloud microphysical and dynamical processes is critical to improving cloud parameterizations in climate models as well as in cloud-resolving models. Airborne in situ and remote sensing can make critical contributions to progress. Here, a new integrated cloud observation capability developed for the University of Wyoming King Air is described. The suite of instruments includes the Wyoming Cloud Lidar, a 183- GHz microwave radiometer, the Wyoming Cloud Radar, and in situ probes. Combined use of these remote sensor measurements yields more complete descriptions of the vertical structure of cloud microphysical properties and of cloud-scale dynamics than that attainable through ground-based remote sensing or in situ sampling alone. Together with detailed in situ data on aerosols, hydrometeors, water vapor, thermodynamic, and air motion parameters, an advanced observational capability was created to study cloud-scale processes from a single aircraft. The Wyoming Airborne Integrated Cloud Observation (WAICO) experiment was conducted to demonstrate these new capabilities and examples are presented to illustrate the results obtained.

scholarly journals Remote sensing of water cloud droplet size distributions using the backscatter glory: a case study

2004 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 1255-1263 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Mayer ◽  
M. Schröder ◽  
R. Preusker ◽  
L. Schüller
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Droplet Size ◽  
Cloud Droplet ◽  
Droplet Size Distribution ◽  
Single Scattering ◽  
Effective Radius ◽  
Radiative Properties ◽  
High Angular Resolution ◽  
Size Distributions

Abstract. Cloud single scattering properties are mainly determined by the effective radius of the droplet size distribution. There are only few exceptions where the shape of the size distribution affects the optical properties, in particular the rainbow and the glory directions of the scattering phase function. Using observations by the Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager (CASI) in 180° backscatter geometry, we found that high angular resolution aircraft observations of the glory provide unique new information which is not available from traditional remote sensing techniques: Using only one single wavelength, 753nm, we were able to determine not only optical thickness and effective radius, but also the width of the size distribution at cloud top. Applying this novel technique to the ACE-2 CLOUDYCOLUMN experiment, we found that the size distributions were much narrower than usually assumed in radiation calculations which is in agreement with in-situ observations during this campaign. While the shape of the size distribution has only little relevance for the radiative properties of clouds, it is extremely important for understanding their formation and evolution.

Can Marine Cloud Brightening Reduce Sea-Surface Temperatures to Moderate Extreme Hurricanes and Typhoons?

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Salter SH ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Marine Boundary Layer ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Sea Surface Temperatures ◽  
Marine Stratocumulus ◽  
Surface Temperatures ◽  
Stratocumulus Clouds ◽  
Cloud Tops

Elevated sea-surface temperatures are a necessary but not sufficient requirement for the formation of hurricanes and typhoons. This paper suggests a way to exploit this. Twomey [1] showed that cloud reflectivity depends on the size-distribution of cloud drops, with a large number of small drops reflecting more than a smaller number of larger ones. Mid-ocean air is cleaner than over land. Latham [2-4] suggested that reflectivity of marine stratocumulus clouds could be increased by releasing a submicron spray of filtered sea water into the bottom of the marine boundary layer. The salt residues left after evaporation would be mixed by turbulence through the full depth of the marine boundary layer and would be ideal cloud condensation nuclei. Those that reached a height where the air had a super-saturation above 100% by enough to get over the peak of the Köhler curve would produce an increased number of cloud drops and so trigger the Twomey effect. The increase in reflection from cloud tops back out to space would cool sea-surface water. We are not trying to increase cloud cover; we just want to make existing cloud tops whiter. The spray could be produced by wind-driven vessels cruising chosen ocean regions. The engineering design of sea-going hardware is well advanced. This paper suggests a way to calculate spray quantities and the number and cost of spray vessels to achieve a hurricane reduction to a more acceptable intensity. It is intended to show the shape of a possible calculation with credible if not exact assumptions. Anyone with better assumptions should be able to follow the process.

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