Correlations between microphysical properties of large-scale semi-transparent cirrus and the state of the atmosphere

By making use of TOVS Path-B satellite retrievals and ECMWF reanalyses, correlations between bulk microphysical properties of large-scale semi-transparent cirrus (visible optical thickness between 0.7 and 3.8) and thermodynamic and dynamic properties of the surrounding atmosphere have been studied on a global scale. These clouds constitute about half of all high clouds. The global averages (from 60°N to 60°S) of mean ice crystal diameter, D_e, and ice water path (IWP) of these clouds are 55 μm and 30 g m⁻², respectively. IWP of these cirrus is slightly increasing with cloud-top temperature, whereas D_e of cold cirrus does not depend on this parameter. Correlations between D_e and IWp of large-scale cirrus seem to be different in the midlatitudes and in the tropics. However, we observe in general stronger correlations between D_e and IWP and atmospheric humidity and winds deduced from the ECMWF reanalyses: D_e and IWP increase both with increasing atmospheric water vapour. There is also a good distinction between different dynamical situations: In humid situations, IWP is on average about 10 gm⁻² larger in regions with strong large-scale vertical updraft only that in regions with strong large-scale horizontal winds only, whereas the mean D_e of cold large-scale cirrus decreases by about 10 μm if both strong large-scale updraft and horizontal winds are present.