FY-3D MERSI-II云顶产品算法及精度检验

云顶温度和云顶高度作为基本的云参数,在云的热辐射强迫估计,航空气象保障,数值天气预报,天气气候研究等方面具有十分重要的意义。FY-3D/MERSI-II云顶温度产品基于云在红外波段的发射率假设,利用两个红外分裂窗通道(11.0 μm、12.0 μm)结合一维变分方法寻找最优云顶温度层,再利用数值天气预报廓线产品插值反演对应的云顶高度和压强。利用AQUA/MODIS所提供的云产品数据对FY-3D/MERSI-II云顶温度、云顶高度、云顶压强产品进行精度检验,结果表明:FY-3D/MERSI-II水云云顶温度精度为-1.2±4.6 K,云顶高度精度为1.4±1.8 km,云顶压强精度为-140.9±114.5 hPa;厚冰云云顶温度精度为7.0±6.0 K,云顶高度精度为-1.0±0.9 km,云顶压强精度为37.1±36.0 hPa;混合云云顶温度精度为1.5±8.5 K,云顶高度精度为0.8±2.2 km,云顶压强精度为-87.4±157.8 hPa,单层卷云和多层云的反演偏差较大。辐射传输模式在云顶性质反演中有十分关键的作用,但目前对冰云特别是卷云的性质认识不足,因此如何精确描述冰晶辐射特性,提高冰云特别是卷云辐射传输的模拟精度将是下一步的工作重点。      

Observational Characteristics of Cloud Vertical Profiles over the Continent of East Asia from the CloudSat Data

The CloudSat satellite data from June 2006 to April 2011 are used to investigate the characteristics of cloud vertical profiles over East Asia(20°-50°N,80°-120°E),with particular emphasis on the profiles of precipitative clouds in comparison with those of nonprecipitative clouds,as well as the seasonal variations of these profiles.There are some obvious differences between the precipitative and nonprecipitative cloud profiles.Generally,precipitative clouds mainly locate below 8 km with radar reflectivity in the range of-20 to 15 dBZ and maximum values appearing within 2-4-km height,and the clouds usually reach the ground;while nonprecipitative clouds locate in the layers of 4-12 km with radar reflectivity between-28 and 0 dBZ and maximum values within 8-10-km height.There are also some differences among the liquid precipitative,solid precipitative,and possible drizzle precipitative cloud profiles.In precipitative clouds,radar reflectivity increases rapidly from 11 to 7 km in vertical,implying that condensation and collision-coalescence processes play a crucial role in the formation of large-size drops.The frequency distribution of temperature at-15℃ is consistent with the highest frequency of radar reflectivity in solid precipitative clouds,which suggests that the temperatures near-15℃ are conductive to deposition and accretion processes.The vertical profiles of liquid precipitative clouds show almost the same distributions in spring,summer,and autumn but with differences in winter at mainly lower levels.In contrast,the vertical profiles of solid precipitative clouds change from spring to winter with an alternate double and single high-frequency core,which is consistent with variations of the frequency distribution of temperature at-15℃.The vertical profiles of nonprecipitative clouds show a little change with season.The observations also show that the precipitation events over East Asia are mostly related to deep convective clouds and nimbostratus clouds.These results are expected to be useful for evaluation of weather and climate models and for improvement of microphysical parameterizations in numerical models.     

MODIS数据云相态反演在一次暴雪过程中的应用

该文选取新疆阿克苏地区2006年11月22—24日的EOS/MODIS卫星遥感资料,同时选取相关气象站的观测资料,应用三光谱云相态反演法,对阿克苏地区暴雪云团的变化过程进行了研究,通过三光谱亮温差点聚图对云相态变化的分析,清晰地展示出该天气系统的发生、发展到最终暴雪形成过程中的物理机制。反演结果与实际气象观测情况相一致;表明三光谱云相态反演法在理论和实际应用方面具有一定优势。     

基于MODIS产品的中国陆地冰云季节变化特征

利用2011年11月-2016年10月Terra卫星MODIS（moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer）3级大气产品数据（MOD08_M3）对中国陆地区域冰云发生概率、有效粒子半径、光学厚度和冰水路径的水平分布与季节变化进行分析。结果表明:冰云特性的水平分布和季节变化特征与东亚季风和强对流天气的发生存在一定联系。近5年冰云发生概率呈上升趋势,季节性变化规律明显,高值区出现在青藏高原东北部;冰云有效粒子水平分布呈现由西南向东北逐渐增加的趋势,总体季节性变化特点不明显,但在纬度较高地区出现随季节变化特征;冰云光学厚度与冰水路径水平分布和季节变化趋势大致相同,呈东南向西北递减趋势,总体季节性变化明显。     

基于多源卫星资料的中国地区云宏微观特征研究

利用2007—2016年国际卫星云气候计划（International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project,ISCCP）、云和地球辐射能量系统（Clouds and the Earth''s Radiant Energy System,CERES）和中分辨率成像光谱仪（Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer,MODIS）卫星反演云产品,对比分析了不同数据反演的中国地区云系结构的宏微观特征,并采用复合评价指标定量评估了不同数据之间时间和空间上的一致性。结果表明：三套卫星数据都能较好地反演出中国地区总云量呈南高北低、东高西低、夏高冬低的分布特征,但通过比较时间技巧（Temporal Skill,S_T）及空间技巧（Spatial Skill,S_S）复合评价指标及其各项分量发现,与MODIS相比,CERES与ISCCP数据反演的总云量时间序列演变特征明显更为一致,且其评分均有南方优于北方,夏季优于冬季的特征;进一步分析不同高度云量的S_T评分发现,CERES和ISCCP两套数据在南方地区的总云量差异主要来自于低云量的绝对偏差,而北方地区的偏差则同时存在于低云和中云;对比分析MODIS和CERES反演的云滴有效半径发现,高云对应的冰相云一致性较高,而中低云相对应的液相云的偏差则有夏季高于冬季的规律。针对夏季液相和冰相云滴粒径及概率密度分析则表明,相比CERES数据,MODIS对夏季液水和冰水粒子的有效半径在不同地区均有不同程度的高估,液（冰）水谱宽则更宽（窄）。     

基于星载微波雷达和激光雷达探测的夏季云顶高度及云量差异分析

云是天气与气候变化的重要影响因子,准确估量云顶高度和云量对分析云特性、降水及强天气预报、估算云辐射强迫等都具有重要意义。利用2006-2010年6-8月CloudSat卫星搭载的微波云廓线雷达（CPR,简称微波雷达）和CALIPSO卫星搭载的云-气溶胶偏振激光雷达（CALIOP,简称激光雷达）的探测资料,分析了全球云顶高度及云量的空间分布特征。结果表明,热带地区微波雷达探测云顶高度平均比激光雷达低约4 km,但均超过12 km;副热带洋面云顶高度在4 km以下,且两部雷达探测的云顶高度差异存在地域性。微波雷达对薄云、云砧及云顶高度低于2.5 km的低云存在漏判,对厚云的云顶高度偏低估;微波雷达探测的全球总云量均值为51.1%,比激光雷达少23.3%;两者给出的云量分布也存在显著的海-陆差异,其中洋面云量差异更大,如微波雷达测出局部洋面云量为80%,而激光雷达的探测结果却超过90%。由于激光雷达发射波长短,对云顶微小粒子比较敏感,而微波雷达波长较长,对相对较小粒子的探测存在局限性。因此,激光雷达对云顶高度的探测优于微波雷达。此结果不仅加强了对激光雷达和微波雷达探测原理的认识,而且进一步理解了云的气候特征。     

Stratospheric Ozone-induced Cloud Radiative Effects on Antarctic Sea Ice

Recent studies demonstrate that the Antarctic Ozone Hole has important influences on Antarctic sea ice.While most of these works have focused on effects associated with atmospheric and oceanic dynamic processes caused by stratospheric ozone changes,here we show that stratospheric ozone-induced cloud radiative effects also play important roles in causing changes in Antarctic sea ice.Our simulations demonstrate that the recovery of the Antarctic Ozone Hole causes decreases in clouds over Southern Hemisphere(SH)high latitudes and increases in clouds over the SH extratropics.The decrease in clouds leads to a reduction in downward infrared radiation,especially in austral autumn.This results in cooling of the Southern Ocean surface and increasing Antarctic sea ice.Surface cooling also involves ice-albedo feedback.Increasing sea ice reflects solar radiation and causes further cooling and more increases in Antarctic sea ice.     

Cirrus Cloud Macrophysical and Optical Properties over North China from CALIOP Measurements

Two years of mid-latitude cirrus cloud macrophysical and optical properties over North China are described from Earth-orbiting Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization(CALIOP) satellite measurements. Global cloud climatological studies based on active remote sensing data sets benefit from more accurate resolution of vertical structure and more reliable detection of optically thin layers.The mean values for cirrus cases over North China are 0.19±0.18 for infrared emittance,0.41±0.68 for visible optical depth, 0.26±0.12 for integrated depolarization ratio,and 0.72±0.22 for integrated color ratio.When studied using reasonable assumptions for the relationship between extinction and ice crystal backscatter coefficients,our results show that most of the cirrus clouds profiled using the 0.532μm channel data stream correspond with an optical depth of less than 1.0.The dependence of cirrus cloud properties on cirrus cloud mid-cloud temperature and geometry thickness are generally similar to the results derived from the ground-based lidar, which are mainly impacted by the adiabatic process on the ice cloud content.However,the differences in macrophysical parameter variability indicate the limits of spaceborne-lidar and dissimilarities in regional climate variability and the nature and source of cloud nuclei in different geographical regions.     

基于飞机观测的美国落基山地区冬季混合相态层状云与夏季对流云的微物理特征

混合相态层状云与对流云的微物理特征有很大的差异性,但现阶段数值模式中并没有充分考虑两者的区别,这是导致云降水的模拟有较大不确定性的原因之一。为了加深对层状云与对流云的微物理特征差异的理解,并为模式的验证和参数化开发提供支撑,本文基于在中落基山地区进行的Ice in Clouds Experiment—Layer Clouds（ICE-L）项目和High Plain Cumulus（HiCu）项目的飞机观测资料,定量对比分析了该地区大陆性混合相态冬季较浅薄的层状云与较弱及中等强度的夏季对流云的微物理特征。其中,粒子图像和粒子谱通过2D-Cloud和2D-Precipitation探头得到,液态水含量通过热线式King探头测量得到,冰水含量基于粒子谱计算得到。主要结论有:（1）在?30°C～0°C的温度层范围内,夏季对流云内的液态水含量比冬季层状云高一个数量级,冰水含量高一到两个数量级,并且在对流云云顶附近观测到更多的过冷水。此外,夏季对流云中液态水含量在?20°C～0°C上随温度降低而升高,而冬季层状云则相反。夏季对流云中更活跃的冰晶生成和生长过程使得云内液态水质量分数小于层状云。（2）冬季层状云与夏季对流云内相态空间分布极不均匀。随着温度从0°C降低到?30°C,在冬季层状云中冰晶发生贝吉龙过程,云中的过冷水为主的区域向混合相态和冰相转化。而夏季对流云中相态结构更为复杂,体现了对流云中复杂的冰水相互作用。（3）在?30°C～0°C的温度范围内,夏季对流云的粒子谱宽度大于冬季层状云。随着温度的降低,冬季层状云与夏季对流云均存在粒子谱增宽的现象。（4）冬季层状云中,温度低于?20°C时冰晶主要为无规则状,在?20°C～?10°C观测到了辐枝状和无规则状冰晶,在?10°C以上观测到了柱状和无规则状冰晶,说明冰晶的生长主要为凝华增长和碰并增长。而夏季对流云以冻滴、霰粒子与不规则冰晶为主,说明主要为液滴冻结、淞附增长和碰并增长为主。（5）在夏季对流云较强的上升气流中存在较高的液态水含量,但垂直速度与云内冰水含量没有明显的相关性。     

The Microphysical Characteristics of Wintertime Cold Clouds in North China

The microphysical characteristics of wintertime cold clouds in North China were investigated from 22 aircraft observation flights from 2014 to 2017, 2020, and 2021. The clouds were generated by mesoscale weather systems with little orographic component. Over the mixed-phase temperature range (–40°C to 0°C), the average fraction of liquid, mixed-phase, and ice cloud was 4.9%, 23.3%, and 71.8%, respectively, and the probability distribution of ice mass fraction was a half-U-shape, suggesting that ice cloud was the primary cloud type. The wintertime mixed-phase clouds in North China were characterized by large cloud droplet number concentration, small liquid water content (LWC), and small effective diameter of cloud droplets. The main reason for larger cloud droplet number concentration and smaller effective diameter of cloud droplets was the heavy pollution in winter in North China, while for smaller LWC was the lower temperature during flights and the difference in air mass type. With the temperature increasing, cloud droplet number concentration, LWC, and the size of ice particles increased, but ice number concentration and effective diameter of cloud droplets decreased, similar to other mid-latitude regions, indicating the similarity in the temperature dependence of cloud properties of mixed-phase clouds. The variation of the cloud properties and ice habit at different temperatures indicated the operation of the aggregation and riming processes, which were commonly present in the wintertime mixed-phase clouds. This study fills a gap in the aircraft observation of wintertime cold clouds in North China.     

湖南秋季积层混合云系飞机人工增雨作业方法

统计分析2007—2016年秋季湖南省长沙市地面气象观测资料、湖南省飞机人工增雨作业资料, 得到湖南省秋季积层混合云系的降水分布情况、一般结构特征和相应的飞机增雨作业方法。使用多普勒天气雷达、GRAPES_CAMS数值模式和中小尺度气象站网等资料对典型作业天气过程进行云降水物理和数值模拟分析, 采用成对对流云和基于TREC算法的回波跟踪等方法进行作业效果评估。归纳得到湖南省秋季积层混合云系人工增雨作业条件判别的12个宏微观指标, 探讨在使用运7飞机、碘化银烟条作业装备条件下, 开展飞机增雨作业的最佳催化时机、部位和剂量。针对积层混合云系中的降水性层状云系、积云对流泡, 飞机增雨适宜作业的区域、播撒高度和催化剂量:在过冷高层云的-15~-5℃层, 播撒达到30 L-1的人工冰晶浓度; 在过冷积云的-15~-7℃层, 静力催化使冰晶浓度达到30 L-1或动力催化达到100 L-1。这些方法在实践中取得了较好的人工增雨作业效果。     

京津冀地区夏季降水冰云和非降水冰云云特征对比分析

利用2013～2016年的Aqua MODIS卫星和CloudSat卫星的二级产品资料,对发生在京津冀地区夏季的降水冰云和非降水冰云进行了统计。基于此,对比分析了两类冰云的云类型,研究了二者在云特征参数、云层数及垂直结构上的差异,并且探究了二者在不同通道下云特征参数的相对大小。结果表明:1）京津冀地区的降水冰云以深对流云和雨层云为主,分别占48.63%和34.65%,而非降水冰云以高层云和卷云为主,分别占55.62%和31.58%。2）降水冰云和非降水冰云的平均云顶温度、云顶高度、光学厚度、积分云水总量、有效粒子半径分别为230.99 K、10.90 km、53.26、937.98 g/m2、31.45m和236.17 K、10.10 km、12.81、209.00 g/m2、27.54 μm。3）降水冰云以单层云为主,占80.39%,双层云占18.75%;而非降水冰云仍以单层云为主,占85.35%,双层云则占14.38%,比降水冰云低。4）相较于非降水冰云,降水冰云中卷云和高积云云体位置较高,而高层云和深对流云位置较低。5）随高度变化,降水冰云冰水含量是双峰结构,而非降水冰云是单峰结构;二者的粒子数浓度则差异不大;非降水冰云的粒子有效半径在5～7.5 km随高度变化不大,而降水冰云则随高度减小。6）降水冰云的积分云水总量、光学厚度和粒子有效半径>≥模态[、、分别代表该云特征参数在1.6、2.1、3.7 μm通道中的数值,当n=1, 2, 3时,分别代表光学厚度（b₁）、积分云水总量（b₂）、有效半径这三种（b₃）]的比例都高于非降水冰云,而二者在云参数≥≥模态的比例则有差异。     

一维辐射对流模式对云-辐射强迫的数值模拟研究

利用一维辐射－对流气候模式, 详细研究了云量、云光学厚度以及云高等要素的变化对大气顶和地面太阳短波辐射和红外长波辐射通量以及云的辐射强迫的影响, 给出了计算这些物理量的经验拟合公式。结果表明, 云具有极为重要的辐射－气候效应。云量、云光学厚度以及云高即使只有百分之几的变化, 所带来的辐射强迫也可以与大气二氧化碳浓度加倍所产生的辐射强迫（3.75 W/m2）相比拟。例如, 当分别给它们+3%的扰动时, 即取云量变化0.015, 云光学厚度变化0.27, 以及云高变化0.15 km时（在实际的地球大气中, 这种尺度的变化是完全可能发生的）, 那么,可以得到地气系统的太阳短波辐射强迫-3.10 W/m2以及红外长波辐射强迫-1.77 W/m2, 二者之和为-4.78 W/m2, 已经完全可以抵消大气二氧化碳浓度加倍所产生的辐射强迫。但是, 当云量、云光学厚度以及云高向相反方向产生类似扰动时, 所产生的辐射强迫可能极大地放大二氧化碳浓度增加所产生的增强温室效应。因此, 研究结果揭示出, 不管是为了解释过去的气候变化, 还是预测未来的气候变化, 亟待加强在一个变化了的气候环境（例如地面温度升高）下, 云将发生何种变化的研究。     

Seasonal and annual segregation of liquid water and ice clouds in Iran and their relation to geographic components and precipitation

Efficient and proper understanding of the state of the clouds regarding different seasons of the year will have profound effects on different economic and environmental sectors. The purpose of this study is to determine the hourly dissociation of ice and liquid clouds in Iran. To this end, cloud optical thickness (COT) data, as well as optical depth of clouds in two phases of liquid and ice were obtained and processed from 31 synoptic meteorological stations (1960–2015), MODIS data from Terra satellite during the years 2001 to 2011, and they were processed then. Next, using the RegCM4 model, the cloud fraction (clt) was simulated to accurately identify the cloud cover situation in Iran. The results showed that the maximum annual mean abundance of liquid and ice clouds was 18.95 days for the time 15:00 and 3.99 days for the time 06:00, respectively. Climatic zones of the Caspian and Persian Gulf coasts at 15 o’clock had the highest decreasing trend of liquid clouds. Ice clouds in all parts of Iran’s climate, with the exception of the eastern plateau, also declined. From south to north and east to west of Iran, the occurrence of ice and liquid clouds is increasing. Therefore, the spatio-temporal distribution of liquid and ice clouds in the country was also dependent on spatial components and latitude had the greatest impact. From the satellite and modeled data, the RegCM4 model has been able to detect the Monsoon phenomenon in southeastern Iran during the summer. CLT simulation in Iran has also shown that cloud cover in Iran fluctuates between 28 and 65% on average, with 81.5% of Iranian stations having a significant change in the amount of annual cloud cover. Correlation of liquid and ice clouds with precipitation showed that liquid clouds in summer and ice clouds in spring had higher correlation with precipitation in Iran. Northern coasts of Iran due to greater ascent mechanisms such as coastal compressors, north latitude atmospheric circulation systems, and maximum winds in the north and west of Iran due to the location of western systems entry and sufficient thermal gradient, had maximum ice clouds in the last half century. Also, south of Iran, despite having extended and great water-bodies, is less cloudy due to descending air in Hadley’s circulation (Hadley cell) of air.     

西南低涡对流云团及其降水的一些特征

基于FY-2C静止卫星红外和水汽通道资料,简单分析了发生在四川盆地的西南低涡暴雨云团生消过程,给出了一些有意义的云团生命特征。同时,结合相应的地面自动站降水资料,详细分析了卫星红外和水汽通道云顶亮温与对流云团降水之间的关系特征,结果表明:对于一完整对流降水过程,1小时内最低水汽亮温和水汽亮温增量能很好地描述地面1小时累计降水特征。然而,用静止卫星红外或水汽通道亮温来表征的云团降水特征是非常复杂的。尽管具有相同的最低云顶红外或水汽亮温,但对不同的对流过程其总体降水量级趋势不一样。而且,对于同一对流过程的不同发展阶段,即使出现云顶红外或水汽亮温一样,但其地面降水特征也是不一致的。甚至是对于同一时刻具有相同最低红外或最低水汽亮温特征的云,其降水落区与量级都不尽相同。正是这些复杂的降水特征,使得西南低涡对流云团的降水估算具有很大的难度。      

Simulations of 20th and 21st century Arctic cloud amount in the global climate models assessed in the IPCC AR4

Simulations of late 20th and 21st century Arctic cloud amount from 20 global climate models (GCMs) in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 3 (CMIP3) dataset are synthesized and assessed. Under recent climatic conditions, GCMs realistically simulate the spatial distribution of Arctic clouds, the magnitude of cloudiness during the warmest seasons (summer–autumn), and the prevalence of low clouds as the predominant type. The greatest intermodel spread and most pronounced model error of excessive cloudiness coincides with the coldest seasons (winter–spring) and locations (perennial ice pack, Greenland, and the Canadian Archipelago). Under greenhouse forcing (SRES A1B emissions scenario) the Arctic is expected to become cloudier, especially during autumn and over sea ice, in tandem with cloud decreases in middle latitudes. Projected cloud changes for the late 21st century depend strongly on the simulated modern (late 20th century) annual cycle of Arctic cloud amount: GCMs that correctly simulate more clouds during summer than winter at present also tend to simulate more clouds in the future. The simulated Arctic cloud changes display a tripole structure aloft, with largest increases concentrated at low levels (below 700 hPa) and high levels (above 400 hPa) but little change in the middle troposphere. The changes in cloud radiative forcing suggest that the cloud changes are a positive feedback annually but negative during summer. Of potential explanations for the simulated Arctic cloud response, local evaporation is the leading candidate based on its high correlation with the cloud changes. The polar cloud changes are also significantly correlated with model resolution: GCMs with higher spatial resolution tend to produce larger future cloud increases.     

CPR雷达探测北半球夏季多层云系结构统计特征分析

利用2007~2010年北半球夏季（6~8月）CloudSat卫星搭载的云廓线雷达（Cloud Profile Radar,CPR）探测结果对0°~60°N区域单层、双层和三层云系的水平分布、垂直结构特征及各云层云类组成、云水路径等物理量分布进行分析。云量的统计结果表明CPR探测的单层、双层和三层云系的云量分别为36.63%、8.26%和1.40%,云量的水平分布表明其高值区主要位于对流旺盛区域,且高值区的云层云顶高、厚度大,而低值区则多位于副热带高压区域。对不同云类的出现频率统计分析结果表明,单层云系中各云类的出现频率相近;多层云系的上层以卷云为主,下层以层积云为主。对比海陆差异发现洋面卷云和层积云的出现频率显著高于陆面,但高层云和高积云的出现频率低于陆面。云水路径分析表明,单层云系的冰水路径和液水路径均最大,而在多层云系中云层越高、厚度越大、冰水路径越大,液水路径则随着云层的降低增大。     

基于CloudSat资料对中国低纬度陆地区域卷云物理特征的研究

利用2008年9月—2016年8月的CloudSat卫星资料对发生在我国低纬度陆地区域(5°~36.5°N,78°~124°E)的卷云物理特征进行统计分析,并分别讨论东部沿海、中部、西部3个子区域的卷云物理特征的季节变化。结果表明:卷云的整层发生率西部地区整体低于中部与东部沿海地区。3个子区域整层发生率均在夏季最高、冬季最低。卷云的主要发生高度在5.04~18.71 km,垂直分布中卷云发生率的最大值出现在春季中部地区,为15.34%,高度为9.83 km。冰水路径最大值出现在夏季的东部沿海,液水路径最大值在秋季的西部地区。冰水含量、冰粒数浓度、冰粒有效半径的主要分布高度与卷云的发生高度一致,液水含量、液滴数浓度、液滴有效半径的主要分布高度在5.04~9.35 km。3个子区域卷云冰水含量、冰粒数浓度、冰粒有效半径垂直分布中大多集中在中上部;液水含量垂直分布主要集中在分布高度的中下部。四季卷云雷达反射率因子的最大值在-19.89~-16.78 dBZ,分布高度在7.19~10.55 km。     

Comparison of cloud properties between cloudsat retrievals and airplane measurements in mixed-phase cloud layers of weak convective and stratus clouds

Cloud microphysical properties including liquid and ice particle number concentration (NC), liquid water content (LWC), ice water content (IWC) and effective radius (RE) were retrieved from CloudSat data for a weakly convective and a widespread stratus cloud. Within the mixed-phase cloud layers, liquid-phase fractions needed to be assumed in the data retrieval process, and one existing linear (p1) and two exponential (p2 and p3) functions, which estimate the liquid-phase fraction as a function of subfreezing temperature (from -20°C to 0°C), were tested. The retrieved NC, LWC, IWC and RE using p1 were on average larger than airplane measurements in the same cloud layer. Function p2 performed better than p1 or p3 in retrieving the NCs of cloud droplets in the convective cloud, while function p1 performed better in the stratus cloud. Function p3 performed better in LWC estimation in both convective and stratus clouds. The REs of cloud droplets calculated using the retrieved cloud droplet NC and LWC were closer to the values of in situ observations than those retrieved directly using the p1 function. The retrieved NCs of ice particles in both convective and stratus clouds, on the assumption of liquid-phase fraction during the retrieval of liquid droplet NCs, were closer to those of airplane observations than on the assumption of function p1.     

The Significant Role of Radiosonde-measured Cloud-base Height in the Estimation of Cloud Radiative Forcing

The satellite-based quantification of cloud radiative forcing remains poorly understood, due largely to the limitation or uncertainties in characterizing cloud-base height (CBH). Here, we use the CBH data from radiosonde measurements over China in combination with the collocated cloud-top height (CTH) and cloud properties from MODIS/Aqua to quantify the impact of CBH on shortwave cloud radiative forcing (SWCRF). The climatological mean SWCRF at the surface (SWCRF_SUR), at the top of the atmosphere (SWCRF_TOA), and in the atmosphere (SWCRF_ATM) are estimated to be ?97.14, ?84.35, and 12.79 W m^?2, respectively for the summers spanning 2010 to 2018 over China. To illustrate the role of the cloud base, we assume four scenarios according to vertical profile patterns of cloud optical depth (COD). Using the CTH and cloud properties from MODIS alone results in large uncertainties for the estimation of SWCRF_ATM, compared with those under scenarios that consider the CBH. Furthermore, the biases of the CERES estimation of SWCRF_ATM tend to increase in the presence of thick clouds with low CBH. Additionally, the discrepancy of SWCRF_ATM relative to that calculated without consideration of CBH varies according to the vertical profile of COD. When a uniform COD vertical profile is assumed, the largest SWCRF discrepancies occur during the early morning or late afternoon. By comparison, the two-point COD vertical distribution assumption has the largest uncertainties occurring at noon when the solar irradiation peaks. These findings justify the urgent need to consider the cloud vertical structures when calculating the SWCRF which is otherwise neglected.