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.     

合肥上空卷云和沙尘气溶胶退偏振比的激光雷达探测

研制了一台L300偏振激光雷达,用于卷云和沙尘气溶胶后向散射光退偏振比的探测研究.介绍了偏振激光雷达的探测原理,叙述了L300偏振激光雷达的结构、技术参数、测量方法和数据处理方法.初步的探测结果表明,合肥西郊上空高度在10 km左右的卷云的退偏振比在0.4～0.5之间,沙尘气溶胶的退偏振比在0.2～0.3范围内,但是剧烈沙尘暴的气溶胶的退偏振比可达到0.4左右.     

Airborne Lidar Observations of the Transition Zone Between the Convective Boundary Layer and Free Atmosphere During the International H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O Project (IHOP) in 2002

Airborne, light detection and ranging (lidar) backscatter observations of the convective boundary layer from the International H₂O Project (IHOP) in 2002 are analysed to study the structure of the transition zone; the backscatter gradient between the convective boundary layer and free atmosphere. A new mathematical algorithm is developed and used to extract high-resolution (15 m) transition-zone boundaries from 6,500 km (flight legs) of airborne observations. The cospectra of transition-zone boundaries and its thickness indicate that thickness changes occur from boundaries moving in opposite directions (vertically) at small wavelengths (<1 km), while at longer wavelengths (>1 km) both boundaries move coherently, with the lower boundary changing altitude more rapidly. Daily probability distributions of the transition-zone thickness are positively skewed with a mode of 60 m. The structure of the transition zone shows no dependence on the “overall” Richardson number, unlike the entrainment zone. This study provides the first quantitative characterization of the structure of the instantaneous transition zone, a contribution towards an improved understanding of convective boundary-layer entrainment.     

基于模糊纹理光谱的全天空红外图像云分类

为了对全天空红外测云系统获得的红外图像进行云类自动识别, 提出了基于模糊纹理光谱结合云物理属性的全天空云类识别方法。首先根据不同滤波窗口的模糊纹理光谱图像特征, 确定了滤波窗口大小, 然后通过分析不同天空类型下的FUTS谱 (fuzzy uncertainty texture spectrum) 以及同一种天空类型下的FUTS谱, 考察了FUTS进行云类识别的适用性, 最后利用最小距离分类法和云基本物理属性对全天空红外图像进行了分类测试。在200个测试样本中, 层状云、积云、高积云、卷云和晴空的识别率分别为100%, 100%, 90%, 100%, 100%, 平均识别率达到98%。基于模糊纹理光谱的云分类算法对单一云空具有很好的分类效果, 可进一步应用于全天空红外图像的云分类识别。     

基于LBP算法的全天空红外云图的分类研究

利用局部二值模式（Local Binary Patterns,LBP）,结合局部云图的方差信息（VAR）,对全天空红外测云系统获得的红外云图进行了分类研究。首先建立了器测云状分类与传统分类的对应关系,其次分析了层状云、积状云、波状云、卷云和晴空5种类型天空的LBP谱和VAR特征,最后对274个样本进行了分类识别,并与人工观测结果比较,结果表明,层状云、积状云、波状云、卷云和晴空的识别正确率分别为100．0％、84．2％、70．3％、64．7％、99．0％,平均正确率达到87．2％。     

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.     

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.     

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。     

中国地区卷云分布特征的星载激光雷达遥感

利用2006年6月至2008年5月CALIOP(Cloud-Aerosol LIdar with Orthogonal Polarization)水平分辨率25 km云层产品来研究中国地区的卷云分布特征.所采用的3条基于卷云气候态的质量控制标准能够有效的剔除CALIOP云种分类产品中判别误差.通过卷云水平分布的研究发现...     

基于CALIPSO卫星资料的京津冀地区MODIS卷云云顶高度订正

卷云在大气辐射中扮演着重要角色,对天气系统和气候变化产生重要影响。相比传统地基观测手段,卫星遥感更容易探测到高层卷云的信息,本文利用CALIOP主动遥感仪器可获取较为准确的薄卷云特性的特点,针对MODIS被动遥感探测器反演的薄卷云云顶高度的偏差开展订正研究。研究选取2013～2017年京津冀地区MODIS云产品,结合CALIPSO卫星的卷云云顶高度数据,基于交叉验证的方法得到线性拟合方案,对MODIS卷云云顶高度进行订正。订正后的MODIS与CALIPSO卷云云顶高度差值的分布区间由?3～2 km变为?2.0～2.5 km,峰值由?0.8 km左右变为0.2 km左右。订正效果随云顶高度和云光学厚度的不同有所变化,其中较低层卷云和光学薄卷云的订正效果更明显。     

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。     

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     

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.     

卷云与水云的短波透射与反射特性

利用矩阵算法计算了对不同太阳天顶角下不同光学厚度的卷云与水云,在4π空间内0～360o的不同方位与0～90o不同天顶角下的波长为1.39 μm太阳短波波段的透射与反射,其天顶角间隔为5.6o,方位角间隔为5.0o。可以看出两种云透射和反射辐射的差别及它们随着光学厚度变化而变化的情况。同时,将其与波长为0.55 μm的可见光波段的透射和反射进行了比较。     

基于KNN的地基可见光云图分类方法

云图的自动分类是实现地基云自动化观测的技术保障。该文探讨了一种先将云图分为积状云、层状云和卷云3大类的分类方案,通过对3大云类和晴空这4种天空类型的纹理特征、颜色特征和形状特征进行分析,选取了21个特征参量,并采用K最近邻分类器 (K-Nearest Neighbor,KNN), 在不同的K取值情况下对这几类天空类型进行了分类识别。结果表明:新的分类方案是可行的,且当纹理特征、颜色特征和形状特征结合使用时获取了比单独利用纹理特征、颜色特征和形状特征以及它们两两组合时更好的识别效果。当K=7且使用21个特征参量时,KNN算法对积状云、层状云、卷云和晴空的识别最好, 识别正确率分别为91.1%,74.4%,70.0%和100.0%,平均正确率为83.9%。     

Effects of cloud types on cloud-radiation interaction over the Asian monsoon region

This paper quantifies the sensitivity of radiation budget quantities to different cloud types over the Asian monsoon region using the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project. Multiple regression was used to estimate the radiative effects of individual cloud type. It was observed that the regression performed better when the solution was constrained with clear sky fluxes, which is evident by an improvement in R ² statistics. The sensitivity coefficients calculated for the Asian monsoon region reveal that, while the LWCRCF and SWCRF will be most vulnerable to changes in cloud cover of deep convective clouds, NETCRF will be susceptible to changes in the nimbostratus clouds. Although the cloud radiative forcing of individual cloud types are found to be similar in sign to previous global findings, their magnitudes are found to vary. It is seen that cirrus clouds play an important role in governing the radiative behavior of this region.     

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.     

Ultraviolet sky radiance distributions of translucent overcast skies

Summary The diffuse sky radiation component in the ultraviolet wavelengths is often at least 50% of the global irradiance under clear skies, and is the dominant component of ultraviolet global radiation under translucent overcast skies. The distribution of sky radiance was measured in a rural area and modeled for wavelength bands of ultraviolet-B (UVB, 280–320 nm) and ultraviolet-A (UVA, 320–400 nm). Sky radiance measurements were made during the summer of 1993 over a wide range of solar zenith angles using radiance sensors mounted on a hand-operated hemispherical rotation mount. UVB irradiance measurements were also made during each scan. Since the ratio of measured irradiance under overcast skies and that predicted for clear skies was not correlated with cloud base height, opaque cloud fraction, or solar zenith angle, it was concluded that the scattering from the clouds dominated the global irradiance, and this scattering was relatively unaffected by the scattering off opaque clouds in the translucent atmosphere.Analysis of the translucent overcast sky UVA and UVB radiance measurements using a semi-empirical distribution model showed that the spectral influences on multiple scattering, single scattering, and horizon brightening components of the distributions agreed with basic atmospheric radiation theory. The best model used solar zenith, the sky zenith, and the scattering angle with resultant coefficient of determination values of 0.62 and 0.25 for the UVA and UVB respectively. The developed equations can be applied directly to the diffuse sky irradiance on the horizontal to provide radiance distributions for the sky.With 6 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.     

CloudSat/CALIPSO卫星资料分析云的全球分布及其季节变化特征

全球气候模式（GCM）中云的参数化方案具有不确定性,了解云的时、空变化能为参数化方案提供有效参考。利用搭载在属于A-Train卫星序列的CloudSat和CALIPSO上的94 GHz云廓线雷达（CPR）以及正交极化云-气溶胶激光雷达（CALIOP）联合的2级云分类产品,分析了2007年3月-2010年2月8种云类及三相态的云量地理分布、纬向垂直分布的季节变化特征以及云层分布概率。结果发现,卷云的分布体系与深对流云相似,主要集中在西太平洋暖池、全球各季风区及赤道辐合带,分布格局与气压带、风带季节性移动一致。层云与层积云主要分布在中低纬度非季风区以及中高纬度的洋面上。高积云与高层云的分布形成明显的海陆差异,雨层云与积云的分布形成明显的纬度差异。冰云分布与卷云相似,云高随纬度递增而递减;水云分布与层积云相似,平均分布于2 km高度;混合云集中于高纬度地区及赤道辐合带,中纬度地区随纬度变化集中于海拔0-10 km的弧形带。层状云多以多层云形式出现,积状云多以单、双层云的形式出现,层状云的云重叠现象比积状云更显著。积状和层状云的分布特征与积云和层云降水的分布特征基本一致,验证了不同类型降水的卫星观测结果,同时为气候模式的云量诊断方案提供对比验证的数据。