Satellite remote sensing of the optical depth and mean crystal size of thin cirrus and contrails

Summary Crystal size and optical depth of optically thin cirrus clouds and contrails over the North Sea and Adriatic Sea on the 18^th of October 1989 are retrieved by comparison of NOAA AVHRR/2 brightness temperatures of channel 4 (9.97 µm–11.56 µm) and channel 5 (11.075 µm–12.76 µm) with one dimensional radiative transfer calculations. Measured brightness temperatures in all three infrared channels and their differences show higher values for contrails than for cirrus. The radiative properties of young contrails are consistent only, if smaller crystal size than those given for natural cirrus are adopted for the calculations. However, there is a continuous transition in radiative parameters between clouds classified as natural cirrus or contrails. For the test areas ice clouds are classified with respect to optical depth and mean crystal size. Finally infrared fluxes and heating rates in the spectral range 4 µm–40 µm are calculated for an atmosphere with a 500 m thick contrail or cirrus uncinus. At given ice content a far stronger atmospheric warming is found for a contrail with relatively small ice crystals: up to 80 K/day at cloud base for an ice content of 0.05 gm^–3 compared to 10 K/day for a cirrus uncinus with large crystals.With 11 Figures     

Lidar remote sounding of cirrus clouds and comparison of simulated fluxes with surface and METEOSAT observations

Three cirrus cloud cases have been remotely sounded near Paris by a ground-based backscatter lidar and broadband radiometers. Some cirrus properties (optical depth, emissivity, height) are derived from these measurements and used to compare radiative transfer calculations to surface and METEOSAT observations of broadband irradiances.For a useful comparison, the three cirrus cases were selected to have different morphologies and optical properties: June 29, 1993—thin cirrus cloud (thickness 1.5 km, optical depth 0.22); September 6, 1993—thick cirrus cloud (thickness 5 km, optical depth 2.7); and November 16, 1993—inhomogeneous and geometrically thick cirrus cloud (thickness 3.5–6.5 km) but optically thin (optical depth 0.82).At surface, the differences between measurements and model range from 1.5 to 4 Wm⁻² for longwave fluxes, and from 20 to 70 Wm⁻² for shortwave fluxes.At the top of the atmosphere, the differences between METEOSAT measurements and model are in fair agreement for longwave fluxes (up to 50 Wm⁻²). However, unexpected high differences are found for shortwave fluxes (up to 144 Wm⁻²) due to cirrus clouds heterogeneities and uncertainties in their microphysical properties and especially the occurrence of high reflectivity due to horizontally oriented ice crystals at the cloud top, which are not taken into account by the Model presently.     

半干旱地区卷云特征的激光雷达探测

利用兰州大学半干旱气候与环境观测站( SACOL) 2007年4～1 1月微脉冲激光雷达(MPL-4 B)观测资料,统计分析了卷云的高度、厚度及其变化特征.采用透过率方法计算了卷云光学厚度,得到了卷云光学厚度与卷云厚度和云底高度的相关关系.结果表明,SACOL卷云出现的平均海拔高度为10.16±1.32 km;卷云厚度...     

Cloud-base distribution and cirrus properties based on micropulse lidar measurements at a site in southeastern China

The cloud fraction(CF) and cloud-base heights(CBHs), and cirrus properties, over a site in southeastern China from June 2008 to May 2009, are examined by a ground-based lidar. Results show that clouds occupied the sky 41% of the time.Significant seasonal variations in CF were found with a maximum/minimum during winter/summer and similar magnitudes of CF in spring and autumn. A distinct diurnal cycle in the overall mean CF was seen. Total, daytime, and nighttime annual mean CBHs were 3.05 ± 2.73 km, 2.46 ± 2.08 km, and 3.51 ± 3.07 km, respectively. The lowest/highest CBH occurred around noon/midnight. Cirrus clouds were present ～36.2% of the time at night with the percentage increased in summer and decreased in spring. Annual mean values for cirrus geometrical properties were 8.89 ± 1.65 km, 9.80 ± 1.70 km, 10.73 ± 1.86 km and 1.83 ± 0.91 km for the base, mid-cloud, top height, and the thickness, respectively. Seasonal variations in cirrus geometrical properties show a maximum/minimum in summer/winter for all cirrus geometrical parameters. The mean cirrus lidar ratio for all cirrus cases in our study was ～ 25 ± 17 sr, with a smooth seasonal trend. The cirrus optical depth ranged from 0.001 to 2.475, with a mean of 0.34 ± 0.33. Sub-visual, thin, and dense cirrus were observed in ～12%, 43%, and 45%of the cases, respectively. More frequent, thicker cirrus clouds occurred in summer than in any other season. The properties of cirrus cloud over the site are compared with other lidar-based retrievals of midlatitude cirrus cloud properties.     

Characteristics of cirrus clouds and its radiative properties based on lidar observation over Chung-Li, Taiwan

In this paper, characterization of cirrus clouds are made by using data from ground based polarization lidar and radiosonde measurements over Chung-Li (24.58°N, 121.10°E), Taiwan for a period of 1999–2006. During this period, the occurrence of cirrus clouds is about 37% of the total measurement nights over the lidar site. Analysis of the measurement gives the statistical characteristics about the macrophysical properties such as occurrence height, ambient temperature, and its geometrical thickness while the microphysical properties are interpreted in terms of extinction coefficient, optical depth, effective lidar ratio and depolarization ratio. The effective lidar ratio has been retrieved by using the simulation technique of backscattered lidar signals. The effect of multiple scattering has been taken into the account by a model calculation. Summer (Jun–Aug) shows the maximum appearances of cirrus due to its formation mechanism. It is shown that tropopause cirrus clouds may occur with a probability of about 24%. These clouds are usually optically thin and having laminar in structure with some cases resembling the characteristics similar to that of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs). The radiative properties of the cirrus clouds are also discussed in detail by the empirical equations with results show a positive feedback on any climate change.     

Characterization of cloud microphysical properties in different cloud types over East Asia based on CloudSat/CALIPSO satellite products

利用CloudSat/CALIPSO卫星资料,本文揭示了东亚三个代表性区域的云微物理属性,为评估和改进模式云微物理过程提供重要的观测基础.研究的云微物理量包括云水/冰质量,数浓度和有效半径.研究表明:暖云中云水质量和数浓度随高度增加而减小,有效半径处于8-14μm范围.对于冰云,云冰质量和有效半径随高度增加而减小,而数浓度在垂直方向上变化不大.此外,云微物理属性在不同云型之间存在显著差异:积云的云水质量和数浓度最大,而卷云的云水质量和数浓度最小.从三个区域的对比结果来看,相比于华东和西北太平洋地区,青藏高原地区暖云的云水质量和数浓度较小,而冰云的则较大.     

中国地区卷云消光后向散射比的星载激光雷达遥感

利用两年的星载激光雷达数据对中国地区卷云的消光后向散射比［又称激光雷达比 (简称LR)］进行了研究分析。其中结合多次散射对光学厚度的依赖关系式和LR与透过率之间的关系式来求取LR, 并提出五条质量控制标准来保证数据质量的可靠性。统计结果指出LR的月季变化并不是很明显, 均值在24左右。中国地区的LR在热带辐合带相对较高, 并随纬度的降低而增加 (大约从22到27)。同时, 从这个结论得出, 为了更好地求取卷云的光学厚度, 在中国地区为星载激光雷达选取的LR常数应该随纬度变化而改变。     

地基双波长偏振激光雷达对格尔木地区卷云观测的个例研究

中国科学院大气物理研究所研制了一台双波长偏振激光雷达,在格尔木市气象局进行了为期一年的不连续观测。本文选择了其中一天的观测个例,分别从雷达硬件结构、数据类型、数据处理方法等方面进行了系统的介绍和分析。结果表明,此次观测个例中,卷云位于地表以上4.7 km~7 km处,光学厚度均小于0.1,532 nm和1064 nm上的平均激光雷达比分别为24.3 Sr(激光雷达比)和29.9 Sr,色比多集中在0.8~1之间,此外532 nm波长上的退偏比多集中在0.25~0.3之间。此雷达对高空卷云能进行有效探测,为下一步研究青藏高原地区卷云长期时空分布特征奠定基础。     

Optical properties of cirrus transition zones over China detected by CALIOP

A transition zone near cirrus lateral boundaries can be detected by CALIOP (cloud–aerosol lidar with orthogonal polarization). In the present study, for such transition zones over China, a number of optical properties, such as the backscatter coefficient and depolarization ratio, showed transitional characteristics between cirrus and clear sky. The stepped horizontal profile showed sharp changes in particle number and morphology between cirrus clouds and clear sky. The color ratio, however, was unable to show cirrus transition features because of the low signal-to-noise ratio. Typical ice particles presented a color ratio of 0.55–1.25 and a depolarization ratio of greater than 0.12, which were significantly higher than those of clear sky. Therefore, optical properties in transition took the form of stepwise horizontal profiles. The proportion of typical-featured particles also demonstrated a stepped horizontal profile similar to the optical characteristics, but the relationship between the proportion and the optical characteristics was not uniform in the cirrus clouds, transition zone, and clear sky. Therefore, the optical changes in the transition zone were caused by not only the change in particle concentration, but also the change in the particles themselves. The probability density distribution of the transition-zone widths showed a positive skewness distribution, and transition zones with widths of 3–5 km occurred most frequently. Overall, transition-zone width decreased with increasing temperature and increased with increasing vertical and horizontal wind speeds. This trend demonstrated independence with the direction of the vertical and horizontal winds. These observations implied that the transitional features were caused by material exchange, such as entrainment and turbulent transport, near the cirrus lateral boundaries, and by the phase transformation of particles, such as sublimation.     

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。     

Remote sounding of the cirrus optical depth and temperature from 3.7 and 11 micrometer windows

On the basis of forward IR radiation transfer analyses for an atmosphere containing semi-transparent, non-black cirrus, parameterization equations are derived for the retrieval of the cloud optical depth and cloud temperature utilizing AVHRR 3.7 and 10.8 μum channels. The retrieval techniques developed involve the use of either dual-frequency or dual-scanning angle radiance observations. We show that the cloud optical depth and cloud temperature may be inferred successively from the observed brightness temperature differences using these two techniques. Numerical experiments anderror analyses demonstrate that the dual-frequency method is specifically appropriate for optically thin cirrus cases (τ <1). In case the optical depth of cirrus is close to 3, combination of dual-frequency and dual-scanning angle methods is shown to give reasonable accuracy for the cloud optical depth and temperature retrieval.     

Impact of clouds on the surface radiation balance of the Arctic Ocean

Summary The relationship between clouds and the surface radiative fluxes over the Arctic Ocean are explored by conducting a series of modelling experiments using a one-dimensional thermodynamic sea ice model. The sensitivity of radiative flux to perturbations in cloud fraction and cloud optical depth are determined. These experiments illustrate the substantial effect that clouds have on the state of the sea ice and on the surface radiative fluxes. The effect of clouds on the net flux of radiation at the surface is very complex over the Arctic Ocean particularly due to the presence of the underlying sea ice. Owing to changes in surface albedo and temperature associated with changing cloud properties, there is a strong non-linearity between cloud properties and surface radiative fluxes. The model results are evaluated in three different contexts: 1) the sensitivity of the arctic surface radiation balance to uncertainties in cloud properties; 2) the impact of interannual variability in cloud characteristics on surface radiation fluxes and sea ice surface characteristics; and 3) the impact of climate change and the resulting changes in cloud properties on the surface radiation fluxes and sea ice characteristics.With 11 Figures     

Sensitivity Study of Anthropogenic Aerosol Indirect Forcing through Cirrus Clouds with CAM5 Using Three Ice Nucleation Parameterizations

Quantifying the radiative forcing due to aerosol–cloud interactions especially through cirrus clouds remains challenging because of our limited understanding of aerosol and cloud processes. In this study, we investigate the anthropogenic aerosol indirect forcing (AIF) through cirrus clouds using the Community Atmosphere Model version 5 (CAM5) with a state-of-the-art treatment of ice nucleation. We adopt a new approach to isolate anthropogenic AIF through cirrus clouds in which ice nucleation parameterization is driven by prescribed pre-industrial (PI) and presentday (PD) aerosols, respectively. Sensitivities of anthropogenic ice AIF (i.e., anthropogenic AIF through cirrus clouds) to different ice nucleation parameterizations, homogeneous freezing occurrence, and uncertainties in the cloud microphysics scheme are investigated. Results of sensitivity experiments show that the change (PD minus PI) in global annual mean longwave cloud forcing (i.e., longwave anthropogenic ice AIF) ranges from 0.14 to 0.35 W m^–2, the change in global annual mean shortwave cloud forcing (i.e., shortwave anthropogenic ice AIF) from–0.47 to–0.20 W m^–2, and the change in net cloud forcing from–0.12 to 0.05 W m^–2. Our results suggest that different ice nucleation parameterizations are an important factor for the large uncertainty of anthropogenic ice AIF. Furthermore, improved understanding of the spatial and temporal occurrence characteristics of homogeneous freezing events and the mean states of cirrus cloud properties are also important for constraining anthropogenic ice AIF.     

Analysis of Ice Water Path Retrieval Errors Over Tropical Ocean

Retrieval of multi-layered cloud properties, especially ice water path (IWP), is one of the most perplexing problems in satellite cloud remote sensing. This paper develops a method for improving the IWP retrievals for ice-over-water overlapped cloud systems using Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Microwave Imager (TMI) and Visible and Infrared Scanner (VIRS) data. A combined microwave, visible and infrared algorithm is used to identify overlapped clouds and estimate IWP separately from liquid water path. The retrieval error of IWP is then evaluated by comparing the IWP to that retrieved from single-layer ice clouds surrounding the observed overlapping systems. The major IWP retrieval errors of overlapped clouds are primarily controlled by the errors in estimating the visible optical depth. Optical depths are overestimated by about 10–40% due to the influence of the underlying cloud. For the ice-over-warm-water cloud systems (cloud water temperature Tw > 273 K), the globally averaged IWP retrieval error is about 10%. This cloud type accounts for about 15% of all high-cloud overlapping cases. Ice-over-super-cooled water clouds are the predominant overlapped cloud system, accounting for 55% of the cases. Their global averaged error is 17.2%. The largest IWP retrieval error results when ice clouds occur over extremely super-cooled water clouds (Tw 6 255 K). Overall, roughly 33% of the VIRS IWP retrievals are overestimated due to the effects of the liquid water clouds beneath the cirrus clouds. To improve the accuracy of the IWP retrievals, correction models are developed and applied to all three types of overlapped clouds. The preliminary results indicate that the correction models reduce part of the retrieval error.     

A study of vertical cloud structure of the Indian summer monsoon using CloudSat data

Precise specification of the vertical distribution of cloud optical properties is important to reduce the uncertainty in quantifying the radiative impacts of clouds. The new global observations of vertical profiles of clouds from the CloudSat mission provide opportunities to describe cloud structures and to improve parameterization of clouds in the weather and climate prediction models. In this study, four years (2007–2010) of observations of vertical structure of clouds from the CloudSat cloud profiling radar have been used to document the mean vertical structure of clouds associated with the Indian summer monsoon (ISM) and its intra-seasonal variability. Active and break monsoon spells associated with the intra-seasonal variability of ISM have been identified by an objective criterion. For the present analysis, we considered CloudSat derived column integrated cloud liquid and ice water, and vertically profiles of cloud liquid and ice water content. Over the South Asian monsoon region, deep convective clouds with large vertical extent (up to 14 km) and large values of cloud water and ice content are observed over the north Bay of Bengal. Deep clouds with large ice water content are also observed over north Arabian Sea and adjoining northwest India, along the west coast of India and the south equatorial Indian Ocean. The active monsoon spells are characterized by enhanced deep convection over the Bay of Bengal, west coast of India and northeast Arabian Sea and suppressed convection over the equatorial Indian Ocean. Over the Bay of Bengal, cloud liquid water content and ice water content is enhanced by ~90 and ~200 % respectively during the active spells. An interesting feature associated with the active spell is the vertical tilting structure of positive CLWC and CIWC anomalies over the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, which suggests a pre-conditioning process for the northward propagation of the boreal summer intra-seasonal variability. It is also observed that during the break spells, clouds are not completely suppressed over central India. Instead, clouds with smaller vertical extent (3–5 km) are observed due to the presence of a heat low type of circulation. The present results will be useful for validating the vertical structure of clouds in weather and climate prediction models.     

冰云短波辐射特性参数化

该文对卷云和高层云分别构造了15种冰晶尺度分布，3种云高和云厚，总共30种冰水含量、90种冰水程长模式。对尺度小于与大于30 μm的冰晶粒子的单次散射特性分别用表面积等效冰球Mie理论和射线光学理论进行计算。采用delta-Eddington法计算了在4种不同地面反射率下冰云的多重散射辐射传输特性，提出了冰云辐射特性的参数化公式，指出参数化公式可以用于气候模式或大气环流模式。     

Short-wave radiation flux divergence in arctic cirrus: a case study

Radiation and particle measurements have been performed with an aircraft in deep cirrus cloud fields near the island of Svalbard. The data of 12 March 1993, when measurements at 10 different levels could be obtained, are used in a comparative study with radiative transfer calculations. In a first analysis, the cirrus cloud field was assumed to be horizontally homogeneous and invariable during the time of measurements (frozen properties). Calculations of the up and downward radiative flux densities showed root mean square differences of 9 Wm⁻² from the measurements. To estimate the possible effect of changes of the optical properties of cirrus with time, the flux densities in the upper part (6000–8500 m) and the lower part (3000–5500 m) of the cirrus cloud were analyzed separately. In these simulations, the optical thickness in the lower (upper) part was increased (decreased) by 50%. By this treatment, most of all calculated flux densities were within one standard deviation of the natural variability in each leg. Finally, the effect of inhomogeneities in the cloud field on the solar flux density has been simulated using a Monte Carlo method, since the upper part of the cirrus field has indeed been very inhomogeneous. This paper is a result of a collaborative effort between the MRI in Tsukuba, Japan, and the GKSS in Geesthacht, Germany.     

合肥地区一次小雨过程的W波段云雷达 的云物理特征分析

利用我国自己研制的W波段云雷达地基探测资料,分析了合肥一次小雨云系的微物理过程,然后利用两个不同地区的地基及机载探测资料,初步反演了水云及卷云的微物理参数。结果表明:(1)回波强度增大,多普勒速度、线性退极化比(LDR)、谱宽激增的地方为融化层顶,根据LDR亮带可初步判定融化层的厚度;(2)利用经验关系法,对卷云冰水含量和水云的液态水含量进行了反演,利用推导的公式反演得到冰晶云云粒子的有效半径;(3)利用逐库订正法对水云的回波强度进行订正,得到了衰减订正后的液态水含量,减小了反演误差。     

Evaluation of cloud properties in the NOAA/NCEP global forecast system using multiple satellite products

Knowledge of cloud properties and their vertical structure is important for meteorological studies due to their impact on both the Earth’s radiation budget and adiabatic heating within the atmosphere. The objective of this study is to evaluate bulk cloud properties and vertical distribution simulated by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Centers for Environmental Prediction Global Forecast System (GFS) using three global satellite products. Cloud variables evaluated include the occurrence and fraction of clouds in up to three layers, cloud optical depth, liquid water path, and ice water path. Cloud vertical structure data are retrieved from both active (CloudSat/CALIPSO) and passive sensors and are subsequently compared with GFS model results. In general, the GFS model captures the spatial patterns of hydrometeors reasonably well and follows the general features seen in satellite measurements, but large discrepancies exist in low-level cloud properties. More boundary layer clouds over the interior continents were generated by the GFS model whereas satellite retrievals showed more low-level clouds over oceans. Although the frequencies of global multi-layer clouds from observations are similar to those from the model, latitudinal variations show discrepancies in terms of structure and pattern. The modeled cloud optical depth over storm track region and subtropical region is less than that from the passive sensor and is overestimated for deep convective clouds. The distributions of ice water path (IWP) agree better with satellite observations than do liquid water path (LWP) distributions. Discrepancies in LWP/IWP distributions between observations and the model are attributed to differences in cloud water mixing ratio and mean relative humidity fields, which are major control variables determining the formation of clouds.     

冰晶性质对卷云辐射特征影响的模拟研究

介绍了SBDART辐射模式和libRadtran程序包，并利用这两个模式模拟分析了当卷云内冰晶性质如有效半径、冰晶含量以及形状变化时，卷云反照率的变化。模拟分析表明，在相同条件下，不同形状冰晶构成的卷云反照率有所不同，同种冰晶构成的卷云在不同波长的反照率也不同。总的来说，不论是由何种形状冰晶构成的卷云，随着卷云内冰晶含量增大，有效半径减小，卷云反照率增大。这些工作将有助于增进对lib Radtran程序包和卷云性质的了解。