Ice microphysics and climatic temperature feedback

The potential effects of ice microphysics involving ice crystal size distribution and ice water path (IWP) on climatic temperature perturbations are investigated by using a one-dimensional radiative-turbulent climate model. We define a mean effective size, denoting the width of ice crystals weighted by the geometric cross section area, to represent ice crystal size distribution. Based on aircraft measurements, both the mean effective size and IWP are related to temperature and may be parameterized as functions of temperature. The radiative properties of cirrus clouds are further parameterized in terms of these two basic cloud physics parameters. Using CO₂ doubling as the radiative forcing, feedbacks among temperature, the mean effective size and IWP, and the radiative properties of clouds are analyzed from the model results. We show that overall, a positive feedback associated with ice microphysics and the coupled radiative transfer is produced by temperature increase.     

Cirrus cloud horizontal and vertical inhomogeneity effects in a GCM

Summary A set of the inhomogeneity factor for high-level clouds derived from the ISCCP D1 dataset averaged over a five-year period has been incorporated in the UCLA atmospheric GCM to investigate the effect of cirrus cloud inhomogeneity on climate simulation. The inclusion of this inhomogeneous factor improves the global mean planetary albedo by about 4% simulated from the model. It also produces changes in solar fluxes and OLRs associated with changes in cloud fields, revealing that the cloud inhomogeneity not only affects cloud albedo directly, but also modifies cloud and radiation fields. The corresponding difference in the geographic distribution of precipitation is as large as 7 mm day⁻¹. Using the climatology cloud inhomogeneity factor also produces a warmer troposphere related to changes in the cloudiness and the corresponding radiative heating, which, to some extent, corrects the cold bias in the UCLA AGCM. The region around 14 km, however, is cooler associated with increase in the reflected solar flux that leads to a warmer region above. An interactive parameterization for mean effective ice crystal size based on ice water content and temperature has also been developed and incorporated in the UCLA AGCM. The inclusion of the new parameterization produces substantial differences in the zonal mean temperature and the geographic distribution of precipitation, radiative fluxes, and cloud cover with respect to the control run. The vertical distribution of ice crystal size appears to be an important factor controlling the radiative heating rate and the consequence of circulation patterns, and hence must be included in the cloud-radiation parameterization in climate models to account for realistic cloud processes in the atmosphere.     

Turbulence in Continental Stratocumulus,Part I: External Forcings and Turbulence Structures

Comprehensive, ground-based observations from the US Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurements program Southern Great Plains site are used to study the variability of turbulence forcings and cloud-scale turbulence structures in a continental stratocumulus cloud. The turbulence observations are made from an upward facing cloud (35 GHz) Doppler radar. Cloud base and liquid water path are characterized using a lidar at the surface and a microwave radiometer. The turbulence characterizations are compared and contrasted with those observed in marine stratocumulus clouds. During the 16-h observation period used in this study the cloud-base and cloud-top heights evolve with time and changes in liquid water path observed by the radiometer are consistent with variations in cloud depth. Unlike marine stratocumulus clouds, a diurnal cycle of cloud thickness and liquid water path is not observed. The observed surface latent, sensible, and virtual sensible heat fluxes and the radiative fluxes exhibit a diurnal cycle with values increasing from sunrise to afternoon and decreasing afterwards. During the night, the sensible heat, virtual sensible heat and the net radiative fluxes at the surface are slightly negative. Solar radiative heating prevails in the cloud layer during the day and strong radiative cooling exists at cloud top even during the day. Unlike marine stratocumulus, surface heating described by the convective velocity scale \(W_\mathrm{s}^{*}\) and cloud-top cooling described by \(W_\mathrm{r}^{*}\) are both important in driving the in-cloud turbulence during the day, whereas cloud-top cooling is the exclusive contributor during the night. The combined \(W_\mathrm{s}^{*}\) and \(W_\mathrm{r}^{*}\) (the total velocity scale \(W_\mathrm{t}^{*})\) provides a useful way to track the evolution of the turbulence structure in the cloud. The variance of the radar-measured radial velocity, which is related to resolved turbulence, follows the diurnal cycle and is consistent with the total velocity scale \(W_\mathrm{t}^{*}\) variations. It is higher during the day and lower during the night, which is contrary to that in marine stratocumulus. The \(W_\mathrm{t}^{*}\) values are lowest around sunset when the radiative cooling is also small due to upper-level clouds observed above the low-level stratus. The vertical distribution of the variance results from the surface heating during the day and cloud-top cooling during the night. The squared spectrum width, which is related to turbulence structures within the radar sampling volume (unresolved turbulence) also follows the diurnal cycle. Its vertical distribution indicates that the unresolved turbulence more closely relates to the processes near cloud top. Turbulence in the cloud requires about an hour to respond to the external forcings of surface heating and cloud-top radiative cooling. Positive skewness prevails during the day and negative skewness prevails at night with a sharp transition around sunset. Resolved turbulence dominates near cloud base whereas unresolved turbulence dominates near cloud top. The turbulence characteristics and variability defined in this study can be used to evaluate the time evolution of turbulence structures in large eddy simulation forced by surface and cloud-top radiative forcings.     

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。     

Vertical Structures of Convective and Stratiform Clouds in Boreal Summer over the Tibetan Plateau and Its Neighboring Regions

Cloud is essential in the atmosphere, condensing water vapor and generating strong convective or large-scale persistent precipitation. In this work, the relationships between cloud vertical macro- or microphysical properties, radiative heating rate, and precipitation for convective and stratiform clouds in boreal summer over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) are analyzed and compared with its neighboring land and tropical oceans based on CloudSat/CALIPSO satellite measurements and TRMM precipitation data. The precipitation intensity caused by convective clouds is twofold stronger than that by stratiform clouds. The vertical macrophysics of both cloud types show similar features over the TP, with the region weakening the precipitation intensity and compressing the cloud vertical expansion and variation in cloud top height, but having an uplift effect on the average cloud top height. The vertical microphysics of both cloud types under conditions of no rain over the TP are characterized by lower-level ice water, ice particles with a relatively larger range of sizes, and a relatively lower occurrence of denser ice particles. The features are similar to other regions when precipitation enhances, but convective clouds gather denser and larger ice particles than stratiform clouds over the TP. The atmospheric shortwave (longwave) heating (cooling) rate strengthens with increased precipitation for both cloud types. The longwave cooling layer is thicker when the rainfall rate is less than 100 mm d^?1, but the net heating layer is typically compressed for the profiles of both cloud types over the TP. This study provides insights into the associations between clouds and precipitation, and an observational basis for improving the simulation of convective and stratiform clouds over the TP in climate models.     

Seasonal variation and physical properties of the cloud system over southeastern China derived from CloudSat products

Based on the National Centers for Environmental Prediction(NCEP) and Climate Prediction Center(CPC) Merged Analysis of Precipitation(CMAP) data and Cloud Sat products, the seasonal variations of the cloud properties, vertical occurrence frequency, and ice water content of clouds over southeastern China were investigated in this study. In the Cloud Sat data, a significant alternation in high or low cloud patterns was observed from winter to summer over southeastern China. It was found that the East Asian Summer Monsoon(EASM) circulation and its transport of moisture leads to a conditional instability, which benefits the local upward motion in summer, and thereby results in an increased amount of high cloud. The deep convective cloud centers were found to coincide well with the northward march of the EASM, while cirrus lagged slightly behind the convection center and coincided well with the outflow and meridional wind divergence of the EASM. Analysis of the radiative heating rates revealed that both the plentiful summer moisture and higher clouds are effective in destabilizing the atmosphere. Moreover, clouds heat the mid-troposphere and the cloud radiative heating is balanced by adiabatic cooling through upward motion, which causes meridional wind by the Sverdrup balance. The cloud heating–forced circulation was observed to coincide well with the EASM circulation, serving as a positive effect on EASM circulation.     

Two-moment bulk stratiform cloud microphysics in the grid-point atmospheric model of IAP LASG (GAMIL)

A two-moment bulk stratiform microphysics scheme, including recently developed physically-based droplet activation/ice nucleation parameterizations has been implemented into the Grid-point Atmospheric Model of IAP LASG (GAMIL) as an effort to enhance the model’s capability to simulate aerosol indirect effects. Unlike the previous one-moment cloud microphysics scheme, the new scheme produces a reasonable representation of cloud particle size and number concentration. This scheme captures the observed spatial variations in cloud droplet number concentrations. Simulated ice crystal number concentrations in cirrus clouds qualitatively agree with in situ observations. The longwave and shortwave cloud forcings are in better agreement with observations. Sensitivity tests show that the column cloud droplet number concentrations calculated from two different droplet activation parameterizations are similar. However, ice crystal number concentration in mixed-phased clouds is sensitive to different heterogeneous ice nucleation formulations. The simulation with high ice crystal number concentration in mixed-phase clouds has less liquid water path and weaker cloud forcing. Furthermore, ice crystal number concentration in cirrus clouds is sensitive to different ice nucleation parameterizations. Sensitivity tests also suggest that the impact of pre-existing ice crystals on homogeneous freezing in old clouds should be taken into account.     

Effects of sea surface temperature, radiation, cloud microphysics, and diurnal variations on vertical structures of tropical tropospheric temperature: a two-dimensional equilibrium cloud-resolving modeling study

The effects of sea surface temperature (SST), radiation, cloud microphysics, and diurnal variations on the vertical structure of tropical tropospheric temperature are investigated by analyzing 10 two-dimensional equilibrium cloud-resolving model simulation data. The increase of SST, exclusion of diurnal variation of SST, and inclusion of diurnal variation of solar zenith angle, radiative effects of ice clouds, and ice microphysics could lead to tropical tropospheric warming and increase of tropopause height. The increase of SST and the suppression of its diurnal variation enhance the warming in the lower and upper troposphere, respectively, through increasing latent heat and decreasing IR cooling. The inclusion of diurnal variation of solar zenith angle increases the tropospheric warming through increasing solar heating. The inclusion of cloud radiative effects increases tropospheric warming through suppressing IR cooling in the mid and lower troposphere and enhancing solar heating in the upper troposphere. The inclusion of ice microphysics barely increases warming in the mid and lower troposphere because the warming from ice radiative effects is nearly offset by the cooling from ice microphysical effects, whereas it causes the large warming enhancement in the upper troposphere due to the dominance of ice radiative effects. The tropopause height is increased mainly through the large enhancement of IR cooling.     

利用MODIS数据反演多层云光学厚度和有效粒子半径

利用卫星资料反演云微物理参数不仅有助于对天气变化的监测和预报,而且对人工影响天气的研究十分有益.目前卫星反演云微物理参数的算法一般是假设视场中只有一层云,但是实际环境中多层云出现很频繁.文中研究了多层云的光学厚度和有效粒子半径微物理参数的反演算法,主要针对薄的冰云覆盖在低层水云的多层云情形.算法利用中分辨率成像光谱仪(MODIS)吸收通道和非吸收通道同时进行反演,在此基础上利用SBDART辐射传输模式模拟冰云覆盖在低层水云上的多层云对云微物理参数反演的影响,模拟表明反演时将多层云作为单层云处理会使反演结果产生较大误差.为此,文中提出了云光学厚度和有效粒子半径反演算法中要考虑多层云的因素,并设计了一套云光学厚度和有效粒子半径反演方案.该方案使用SBDART辐射传输模式建立不同观测几何条件、下垫面类型、大气环境等条件下以光学厚度和有效粒子半径为函数变量的多层云、水云和冰云辐射查找表.经过云检测、云相态识别和多层云检测后,在该查找表的基础上,对MODIS通道1和通道7的数据采用最小方差拟合法反演光学厚度、有效粒子半径.利用该方案对2006年7月12日TERRA卫星MODIS数据进行反演试验,反演结果与NASA发布的MOD06产品中云的光学厚度和有效粒子半径的结果较一致,表明方案具有合理性.     

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.     

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。     

一次沙尘暴过程中沙尘气溶胶对云物理量和辐射强迫的影响

利用MOD IS Aqua卫星反演和装载在Aqua上的CERES仪器观测资料,讨论了我国北方地区2004年3月26~28日沙尘暴过程中沙尘气溶胶对云物理特性和辐射强迫的影响。初步结果表明,沙尘气溶胶明显改变了云的物理特性,使云滴变小,含水量及光学厚度减少,减弱了云的净辐射强迫,云的冷却效应受到了抑制,相当于大气层顶沙尘气溶胶的增温作用。     

Remote sensing of cloud liquid water

Summary A method is presented to infer cloud liquid water path (LWP in kg/m²) over the ocean from passive microwave measurements of SSM/I. The algorithm to retrieve LWP is based on simulated satellite observations. They are calculated with a radiative transfer model applied to about 3000 radiosonde ascents over the Atlantic Ocean. Since radiosonde observations do not contain direct information about cloud water and ice, these parameters are parameterized based on relative humidity and temperature using modified adiabatic liquid water density profiles. A multiple linear regression is applied to the simulated radiances and the calculated LWP to derive the algorithm. The retrieval accuracy based on the regression analysis including instrumental noise is 0.03 kg/m². Validation of the LWP-algorithm was pursued through a comparison with measurements of a ground-based 33 GHzmicrowave radiometer on board of R.V. Poseidon during the International Cirrus Experiment 1989 at the North Sea (ICE'89). The LWP values agree within the range of uncertainty caused by the different sampling characteristics of the observing systems. The retrieval accuracy for clear-sky cases determined using colocated METEOSAT data over the North Sea is 0.037 kg/m² and confirms the accuracy estimated from regression analysis for the low liquid water cases.The algorithm was used to derive maps of monthly mean LWP over the Atlantic Ocean. As an example the Octobers of the 5 years 1987–1991 were selected to demonstrate the interannual variability of LWP. The results were compared with the cloud water content produced by the climate model ECHAM-T2 from the Max-Planck-Institut Hamburg.Observations during ICE'89 were used to check the accuracy of the applied radiative transfer model. Brightness temperatures were calculated from radiosonde ascents launched during the overpass of DMSP-F8 in cloud-free situations. The channel-dependent differences range from about –2 to 3 K.The possibility to identify different cloud types using microwave and infrared observations was examined. The main conclusion is that simultaneous microwave and infrared measurements enable the separation of dense cirrus and cirrus with underlying water clouds. A classification of clouds with respect to their top heights and LWP was carried out using a combination of SSM/I derived LWP and simultaneously recorded Meteosat IR-data during ICE'89.With 11 Figures     

Microphysical and radiative properties of mixed-phase altocumulus: A model evaluation of glaciation effects

Using a cloud model with explicit microphysics and radiation, we evaluate the microphysical changes in a supercooled liquid altocumulus cloud with increasing ice content, until glaciation occurs. The properties of the ice and water particle constituents are resolved independently, revealing the relative radiative contributions from the water phase source cloud versus the ice phase virga. Cloud contents are also converted to millimeter-wave radar reflectivities to shed light on the ability of such radars to study these ubiquitous clouds. The results show that the radiative and radar backscattering properties of mixed-phase clouds are dominated by the cloud droplets and ice crystals they contain, respectively.     

南半球中高纬度区域不同类型云的辐射特性

利用CloudSat的2B-CLDCLASS-LIDAR云分类产品和2B-FLXHR-LIDAR辐射产品4 a（2007-2010年）的数据,定量分析了单层云（高云、中云、低云）和3种双层云（如:高云与中云共存、高云与低云共存以及中云与低云共存）在南半球中高纬度（40°-65°S）的云量、云辐射强迫和云辐射加热率。其中云辐射加热率定义为有云时的大气加热率廓线与晴空大气加热率廓线的差值。结果表明:研究区域盛行单层低云和单层中云,其云量分别为44.1%和10.3%。并且,中云重叠低云在双层云中云量也是最大（8.7%）。不同类型云的云量也显著影响着其云辐射强迫。单层低云在大气层顶、地表以及大气中的净云辐射强迫分别是-64.8、-56.5和-8.4 W/m2,其绝对值大于其他类型云。虽然单层的中云在大气层顶和地表的净辐射强迫也为负值,但其在大气中的净云辐射强迫为正值（2.3 W/m2）。最后,讨论了不同类型云对大气中辐射能量垂直分布的影响。所有类型云的短波（或长波）云辐射加热率都随高度升高表现为由负值转为正值（或由正值转为负值）。对于大部分云,其净云辐射加热率主要由长波云辐射加热率决定。这些研究结果旨在为模式中云重叠参数化方案在区域的适用性评估及改进提供观测依据。      

基于CloudSat/CALIPSO卫星资料的青藏高原云辐射及降水的研究进展

青藏高原上空的云及其相关联的降水和辐射影响了高原上空非绝热加热的空间结构。2006年卫星发射升空的CloudSat/CALIPSO卫星提供了定量的、完整的云垂直结构信息。本文回顾了国内外基于该资料进行的青藏高原上云宏观和微观结构特征,云与降水相关性,云辐射效应以及模式中的云-辐射问题方面的研究。指出抬升的青藏高原上水汽较少,限制了高原上云的垂直高度,对云层厚度和层数有显著压缩作用。在云量及其季节变化上,单层云的相对贡献大于亚洲季风区的其他区域;夏季对流云比较浅薄,积云发生频率最高,云内滴谱较宽;降水云以积云和卷云为主,云对总降水的贡献随着云层数增多而减小,降水增强时高层冰粒子的密集度趋于紧密;夏季青藏高原地区云的净辐射效应在8 km高度存在一个厚度仅1 km左右但较强的辐射冷却层,而在其下（4~7 km高度之间）为强的辐射加热层。最后展望了未来需要进一步开展的研究。     

THE ROLE OF CLOUDE/RADIATION IN LONG-RANGE NUMERICAL WEATHER PREDICTION*

We investigate the role of clouds and radiation in the general circulation of the atmosphere using a model designed for 30-day predictions.Comprehensive verifications of 30-day predictions for the 500 hPa geopotential height field have been carried out,using the data from ECMWF objective analyses that cover the period from May 5 to June 3,1982.We perform three model simulations,including experiments with interactive cloud formation,without clouds,and without radiative heating.The latter two experiments allow us to study the effects of cloud/radiation interactions and feedbacks on the predicted vertical velocity,and the meridional and zonal wind profiles,averaged over a 30-day period.We demonstrate that the Hadley circulation is maintained by the presence of clouds.The radiative cooling in the atmosphere intensifies the vertical motion in low latitudes and,to some extent,also strengthens the overall meridional circulation.The meridional winds are correctly reproduced in the model if clouds are incorporated.The zonal winds are significantly affected by clouds and radiative cooling.Without an appropriate incorporation of these physical elements,the model results would deviate significantly from observations.The presence of clouds strengthens the westerlies in middle and high levels.In May,the northerly movemen of the jet stream over eastern Asia is,in part,associated with the presence of clouds.     

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     

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.     

Subpixel fractional cloud cover and inhomogeneity effects on microwave beam-filling error

Using synthetic geometrical clouds and radiative microwave model, we examine the possibility to correct the estimations of liquid water path (LWP) or rain rate with cloud cover measurement. This information may be gotten by co-localized measurements of microwave and infrared/visible measurements on new satellites (TRMM, ADEOS 2, …). In a first step, the effects of fractional cloud cover on microwave brightness temperatures (TB) are investigated in three typical cases of nonprecipitating and precipitating (stratiform and convective) clouds. The beam-filling error (BFE) on brightness temperatures may be analyzed with the known spatial variability using 1D or 3D radiative transfer model. Relationships between BFE and subpixel cloud fraction (CF) are discussed according to the cloud type. We tested several parameters that characterize the horizontal cloud inhomogeneity within a radiometer field of view. BFE was found very sensitive to cloud type and inhomogeneity and is maximum for raining cloud with open spatial structure. In order to account for the uncertainty introduced by the spatial distribution, dependence of BFE on textural-based parameters is also discussed using homogeneity, entropy and an indicator of CF horizontal gradient.