Aerosol-cloud interactions from combined observations with geostationary and polar-orbiting sensors

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Tesche ◽  
Torsten Seelig ◽  
Fani Alexandri ◽  
Peter Bräuer ◽  
Goutam Choudhury ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rain Rate ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Cloud Formation ◽  
Development Phase ◽  
Time Resolved ◽  
Aerosol Cloud ◽  
Cloud Properties ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Aerosol Cloud Interactions ◽  
Ice Water

<p>Atmospheric aerosol particles are of great importance for cloud formation in the atmosphere because they are needed to act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) in liquid-water clouds and as ice nucleating particles (INP) in ice-containing clouds. Changes in aerosol concentration affect the albedo, development, phase, lifetime and rain rate of clouds. These aerosol-cloud interactions (ACI) and the resulting climate effects still cause the largest uncertainty in assessing climate change as they are understood only with medium confidence.</p><p>The PACIFIC project, which is embedded in the French-German Make Our Planet Great Again (MOPGA) initiative, aims to improve our understanding of ACI by enhancing the representation of those aerosols that are relevant for cloud processes and by quantifying temporal changes in cloud properties throughout the cloud life cycle. PACIFIC uses a three-fold approach for studying ACI based on spaceborne observations by (i) using spaceborne lidar data to obtain unprecedented insight in CCN and INP concentrations at cloud level opposed to using column-integrated parameters, (ii) characterizing the development of clouds by tracking them in time-resolved geostationary observations opposed to resorting to the snap-shot view of polar-orbiting sensors, and (iii) combining the detailed observations from polar-orbiting sensors with the time-resolved observations of geostationary sensors – for clouds observed by both – to study the effects of CCN and INP on the albedo, liquid and ice water content, droplet and crystal size, development, phase and rain rate of clouds within different regimes carefully accounting for the meteorological background.</p><p>This contribution will present the scope of the MOPGA-GRI project PACIFIC and illustrate the first findings.</p>

scholarly journals Analysis of polarimetric satellite measurements suggests stronger cooling due to aerosol-cloud interactions

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Otto P. Hasekamp ◽  
Edward Gryspeerdt ◽  
Johannes Quaas
Keyword(s):  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Cloud Droplet ◽  
Cloud Formation ◽  
Anthropogenic Aerosol ◽  
Intergovernmental Panel ◽  
Aerosol Cloud ◽  
Cloud Properties ◽  
Aerosol Cloud Interactions ◽  
Aerosol Emissions

AbstractAnthropogenic aerosol emissions lead to an increase in the amount of cloud condensation nuclei and consequently an increase in cloud droplet number concentration and cloud albedo. The corresponding negative radiative forcing due to aerosol cloud interactions (RF$${}_{{\rm{aci}}}$$aci) is one of the most uncertain radiative forcing terms as reported in the 5th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Here we show that previous observation-based studies underestimate aerosol-cloud interactions because they used measurements of aerosol optical properties that are not directly related to cloud formation and are hampered by measurement uncertainties. We have overcome this problem by the use of new polarimetric satellite retrievals of the relevant aerosol properties (aerosol number, size, shape). The resulting estimate of RF$${}_{{\rm{aci}}}$$aci = −1.14 Wm$${}^{{\rm{-2}}}$$-2 (range between −0.84 and −1.72 Wm$${}^{{\rm{-2}}}$$-2) is more than a factor 2 stronger than the IPCC estimate that includes also other aerosol induced changes in cloud properties.

scholarly journals Incorporation of advanced aerosol activation treatments into CESM/CAM5: model evaluation and impacts on aerosol indirect effects

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (14) ◽  
pp. 7485-7497 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Gantt ◽  
J. He ◽  
X. Zhang ◽  
Y. Zhang ◽  
A. Nenes
Keyword(s):  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Activation Kinetics ◽  
Aerosol Cloud ◽  
Model Version ◽  
Cloud Properties ◽  
Aerosol Cloud Interactions ◽  
Aerosol Activation

Abstract. One of the greatest sources of uncertainty in the science of anthropogenic climate change is from aerosol–cloud interactions. The activation of aerosols into cloud droplets is a direct microphysical linkage between aerosols and clouds; parameterizations of this process link aerosol with cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and the resulting indirect effects. Small differences between parameterizations can have a large impact on the spatiotemporal distributions of activated aerosols and the resulting cloud properties. In this work, we incorporate a series of aerosol activation schemes into the Community Atmosphere Model version 5.1.1 within the Community Earth System Model version 1.0.5 (CESM/CAM5) which include factors such as insoluble aerosol adsorption and giant cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activation kinetics to understand their individual impacts on global-scale cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC). Compared to the existing activation scheme in CESM/CAM5, this series of activation schemes increase the computation time by ~10% but leads to predicted CDNC in better agreement with satellite-derived/in situ values in many regions with high CDNC but in worse agreement for some regions with low CDNC. Large percentage changes in predicted CDNC occur over desert and oceanic regions, owing to the enhanced activation of dust from insoluble aerosol adsorption and reduced activation of sea spray aerosol after accounting for giant CCN activation kinetics. Comparison of CESM/CAM5 predictions against satellite-derived cloud optical thickness and liquid water path shows that the updated activation schemes generally improve the low biases. Globally, the incorporation of all updated schemes leads to an average increase in column CDNC of 150% and an increase (more negative) in shortwave cloud forcing of 12%. With the improvement of model-predicted CDNCs and better agreement with most satellite-derived cloud properties in many regions, the inclusion of these aerosol activation processes should result in better predictions of radiative forcing from aerosol–cloud interactions.

scholarly journals Constraining the instantaneous aerosol influence on cloud albedo

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (19) ◽  
pp. 4899-4904 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Gryspeerdt ◽  
Johannes Quaas ◽  
Sylvaine Ferrachat ◽  
Andrew Gettelman ◽  
Steven Ghan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Cloud Droplet ◽  
Anthropogenic Aerosol ◽  
Cloud Albedo ◽  
Aerosol Cloud ◽  
Cloud Properties ◽  
Aerosol Cloud Interactions ◽  
Aerosol Properties

Much of the uncertainty in estimates of the anthropogenic forcing of climate change comes from uncertainties in the instantaneous effect of aerosols on cloud albedo, known as the Twomey effect or the radiative forcing from aerosol–cloud interactions (RFaci), a component of the total or effective radiative forcing. Because aerosols serving as cloud condensation nuclei can have a strong influence on the cloud droplet number concentration (Nd), previous studies have used the sensitivity of theNdto aerosol properties as a constraint on the strength of the RFaci. However, recent studies have suggested that relationships between aerosol and cloud properties in the present-day climate may not be suitable for determining the sensitivity of theNdto anthropogenic aerosol perturbations. Using an ensemble of global aerosol–climate models, this study demonstrates how joint histograms betweenNdand aerosol properties can account for many of the issues raised by previous studies. It shows that if the anthropogenic contribution to the aerosol is known, the RFaci can be diagnosed to within 20% of its actual value. The accuracy of different aerosol proxies for diagnosing the RFaci is investigated, confirming that using the aerosol optical depth significantly underestimates the strength of the aerosol–cloud interactions in satellite data.

scholarly journals Aerosol midlatitude cyclone indirect effects in observations and high-resolution simulations

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 5821-5846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel T. McCoy ◽  
Paul R. Field ◽  
Anja Schmidt ◽  
Daniel P. Grosvenor ◽  
Frida A.-M. Bender ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Rain Rate ◽  
Cloud Droplet ◽  
Moisture Flux ◽  
Conveyor Belt ◽  
Liquid Water Path ◽  
Aerosol Cloud ◽  
Cloud Properties ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Aerosol Cloud Interactions

Abstract. Aerosol–cloud interactions are a major source of uncertainty in inferring the climate sensitivity from the observational record of temperature. The adjustment of clouds to aerosol is a poorly constrained aspect of these aerosol–cloud interactions. Here, we examine the response of midlatitude cyclone cloud properties to a change in cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC). Idealized experiments in high-resolution, convection-permitting global aquaplanet simulations with constant CDNC are compared to 13 years of remote-sensing observations. Observations and idealized aquaplanet simulations agree that increased warm conveyor belt (WCB) moisture flux into cyclones is consistent with higher cyclone liquid water path (CLWP). When CDNC is increased a larger LWP is needed to give the same rain rate. The LWP adjusts to allow the rain rate to be equal to the moisture flux into the cyclone along the WCB. This results in an increased CLWP for higher CDNC at a fixed WCB moisture flux in both observations and simulations. If observed cyclones in the top and bottom tercile of CDNC are contrasted it is found that they have not only higher CLWP but also cloud cover and albedo. The difference in cyclone albedo between the cyclones in the top and bottom third of CDNC is observed by CERES to be between 0.018 and 0.032, which is consistent with a 4.6–8.3 Wm−2 in-cyclone enhancement in upwelling shortwave when scaled by annual-mean insolation. Based on a regression model to observed cyclone properties, roughly 60 % of the observed variability in CLWP can be explained by CDNC and WCB moisture flux.

scholarly journals Implementation of aerosol–cloud interactions in the regional atmosphere–aerosol model COSMO-MUSCAT(5.0) and evaluation using satellite data

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 2231-2246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sudhakar Dipu ◽  
Johannes Quaas ◽  
Ralf Wolke ◽  
Jens Stoll ◽  
Andreas Mühlbauer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Satellite Data ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Cloud Droplet ◽  
Atmospheric Model ◽  
Horizontal Resolution ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Aerosol Model ◽  
Aerosol Cloud ◽  
Aerosol Cloud Interactions

Abstract. The regional atmospheric model Consortium for Small-scale Modeling (COSMO) coupled to the Multi-Scale Chemistry Aerosol Transport model (MUSCAT) is extended in this work to represent aerosol–cloud interactions. Previously, only one-way interactions (scavenging of aerosol and in-cloud chemistry) and aerosol–radiation interactions were included in this model. The new version allows for a microphysical aerosol effect on clouds. For this, we use the optional two-moment cloud microphysical scheme in COSMO and the online-computed aerosol information for cloud condensation nuclei concentrations (Cccn), replacing the constant Cccn profile. In the radiation scheme, we have implemented a droplet-size-dependent cloud optical depth, allowing now for aerosol–cloud–radiation interactions. To evaluate the models with satellite data, the Cloud Feedback Model Intercomparison Project Observation Simulator Package (COSP) has been implemented. A case study has been carried out to understand the effects of the modifications, where the modified modeling system is applied over the European domain with a horizontal resolution of 0.25°  ×  0.25°. To reduce the complexity in aerosol–cloud interactions, only warm-phase clouds are considered. We found that the online-coupled aerosol introduces significant changes for some cloud microphysical properties. The cloud effective radius shows an increase of 9.5 %, and the cloud droplet number concentration is reduced by 21.5 %.

scholarly journals Aerosol-cloud interactions: The representation of heterogeneous ice activation in cloud models

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernd Kärcher ◽  
Claudia Marcolli
Keyword(s):  
Phase Transitions ◽  
Particle Number ◽  
Water Phase ◽  
Cloud Formation ◽  
Ice Formation ◽  
Ice Crystal ◽  
Nucleation Behavior ◽  
Aerosol Cloud ◽  
Cloud Models ◽  
Aerosol Cloud Interactions

Abstract. The homogeneous nucleation of ice in supercooled liquid water clouds is characterized by time-dependent freezing rates. By contrast, water phase transitions induced heterogeneously by ice nucleating particles (INPs) are described by time-independent ice-active fractions depending on ice supersaturation (s). Laboratory studies report ice-active particle number fractions (AFs) that are cumulative in s. Cloud models budget INP and ice crystal numbers to conserve total particle number during water phase transitions. Here, we show that ice formation from INPs with time-independent nucleation behavior is overpredicted when models budget particle numbers and at the same time derive ice crystal numbers from s-cumulative AFs. This causes a bias towards heterogeneous ice formation in situations where INPs compete with homogeneous droplet freezing during cloud formation. We resolve this issue by introducing differential AFs, moving us one step closer to more robust simulations of aerosol-cloud interactions.

scholarly journals Machine learning uncovers aerosol size information from chemistry and meteorology to quantify potential cloud-forming particles

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arshad Nair ◽  
Fangqun Yu ◽  
Pedro Campuzano Jost ◽  
Paul DeMott ◽  
Ezra Levin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Machine Learning ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Global Climate Models ◽  
Aerosol Composition ◽  
Airborne Measurements ◽  
Aerosol Cloud ◽  
Aerosol Cloud Interactions

Abstract Cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) are mediators of aerosol–cloud interactions, which contribute to the largest uncertainty in climate change prediction. Here, we present a machine learning/artificial intelligence model that quantifies CCN from variables of aerosol composition, atmospheric trace gases, and meteorology. Comprehensive multi-campaign airborne measurements, covering varied physicochemical regimes in the troposphere, confirm the validity of and help probe the inner workings of this machine learning model: revealing for the first time that different ranges of atmospheric aerosol composition and mass correspond to distinct aerosol number size distributions. Machine learning extracts this information, important for accurate quantification of CCN, additionally from both chemistry and meteorology. This can provide a physicochemically explainable, computationally efficient, robust machine learning pathway in global climate models that only resolve aerosol composition; potentially mitigating the uncertainty of effective radiative forcing due to aerosol–cloud interactions (ERFaci) and improving confidence in assessment of anthropogenic contributions and climate change projections.

scholarly journals Dual‐FOV Raman and Doppler lidar studies of aerosol‐cloud interactions: Simultaneous profiling of aerosols, warm‐cloud properties, and vertical wind

2014 ◽  
Vol 119 (9) ◽  
pp. 5512-5527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jörg Schmidt ◽  
Albert Ansmann ◽  
Johannes Bühl ◽  
Holger Baars ◽  
Ulla Wandinger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vertical Wind ◽  
Doppler Lidar ◽  
Aerosol Cloud ◽  
Cloud Properties ◽  
Warm Cloud ◽  
Aerosol Cloud Interactions

scholarly journals Effect of volcanic emissions on clouds during the 2008 and 2018 Kilauea degassing events

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine H. Breen ◽  
Donifan Barahona ◽  
Tianle Yuan ◽  
Huisheng Bian ◽  
Scott C. James
Keyword(s):  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Atmospheric Modeling ◽  
Natural Experiments ◽  
Volcanic Emissions ◽  
Aerosol Cloud ◽  
Satellite Retrievals ◽  
Aerosol Cloud Interactions ◽  
Aerosol Effects ◽  
Aerosol Emissions ◽  
Ice Water

Abstract. Aerosol emissions from volcanic eruptions in otherwise clean environments are regarded as natural experiments where the aerosol effects on clouds and climate can be partitioned from other effects like meteorology and anthropogenic emissions. In this work, we combined satellite retrievals, reanalysis products, and atmospheric modeling to analyze the mechanism of aerosol-cloud interactions during two degassing events at the Kilauea Volcano in 2008 and 2018. The eruptive nature of the 2008 and 2018 degassing events was distinct from long-term volcanic activity for Kilauea. For both events, we performed a comprehensive investigation on the effects of aerosol emissions on macro and microphysical cloud processes for both liquid and ice clouds. This is the first time such an analysis has been reported for the 2018 event. Similarities between both events suggested that aerosol-cloud interactions related to the cloud albedo modification were likely decoupled from local meteorology. In both events the ingestion of aerosols within convective parcels enhanced the detrainment of condensate in the upper troposphere resulting in deeper clouds than in pristine conditions. Accounting for ice nucleation on ash particles led to enhanced ice crystal concentrations at cirrus levels and a slight decrease in ice water content, improving the correlation of the model results with the satellite retrievals. Overall, aerosol loading, plume characteristics, and meteorology contributed to observed and simulated changes in clouds during the Kilauea degassing events.

scholarly journals A six year satellite-based assessment of the regional variations in aerosol indirect effects

2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 20349-20397 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. A. Jones ◽  
S. A. Christopher ◽  
J. Quaas
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Vertical Motion ◽  
The United States ◽  
Dust Aerosol ◽  
Aerosol Concentration ◽  
Cloud Formation ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Aerosol Cloud ◽  
Cloud Properties

Abstract. Since aerosols act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) for cloud water droplets, changes in aerosol concentrations having significant impacts on the corresponding cloud properties. An increase in aerosol concentration leads to an increase in CCN, with an associated decrease in cloud droplet size for a given cloud liquid water content. Smaller droplet sizes may then lead to a reduction in precipitation efficiency and an increase in cloud lifetimes, which induces more reflection of solar radiation back into space, cooling the atmosphere below the cloud layer. In reality, this relationship is much more complex and is interrelated between aerosol, cloud, and atmospheric conditions present at any one time. MODIS aerosol and cloud properties are combined with NCEP Reanalysis data for eight different regions around the globe between March 2000 and December 2005 to study the effects of different aerosol, cloud, and atmospheric conditions on the aerosol indirect effect (AIE). The first AIE for both anthropogenic and dust aerosols is calculated so that the importance of each can be compared. The unique aspect of this research is that it combines multiple satellite data sets over a six year period to provide a comprehensive analysis of indirect effects for different aerosol regimes around the globe. Results show that in most regions, AIE has a distinct seasonal cycle, though the cycle varies in significance and period from region to region. In the Arabian Sea, the six-year mean anthropogenic + dust AIE is −0.4 Wm−2 and is greatest during the summer months (<−2.0 Wm−2) during which dust aerosol concentration is greatest, significant concentrations of anthropogenic aerosols are present, and upward vertical motion is also present providing a favorable environment for cloud formation. In the Bay of Bengal, AIE was negligible owing to less favorable atmospheric conditions and a lower concentration of aerosols. In the eastern North Atlantic, AIE was also small (<0.1 Wm−2) and in this region dust aerosol concentration is much greater than the anthropogenic or sea salt components. However, elevated dust in this region may also absorb solar radiation and warm the atmosphere, stabilizing the atmosphere as evidenced by weak vertical motion during the summer (0.02 Pa s−1) when AOT is greatest. Lower average cloud fraction compared to other regions allows the absorbing effect to offset the cooling effect associated with increasing CCN. The western Atlantic and Pacific oceans have large anthropogenic aerosol concentrations transported from the United States and China respectively and produce modest anthropogenic AIE (0.7, 0.9 Wm−2) in these regions as expected. Anthropogenic AIE was also present off the West African coast corresponding to aerosols produced from seasonal biomass burning. Interestingly, atmospheric conditions were not particularly favorable for cloud formation compared to the other regions during the times where AIE was observed. Overall, we are able to conclude that aerosol type, atmospheric conditions and their relative vertical distributions are a key factors as to whether or not significant AIE occurs and simple correlations between AOT and cloud properties are insufficient to explain the AIE.

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