Relationship between rainfall and lightning over central Indian region in monsoon and premonsoon seasons

Lightning activity and rainfall over the central Indian region (lat, 15.5° N to 25.5° N and lon, 75° E to 85° E) from the TRMM satellite have been analyzed. Ten years' data of monthly lightning and hourly averaged monthly rainfall from 1998 to 2007 have been used for analysis, which shows quite different relationships between lightning and rainfall in monsoon and premonsoon seasons in this region. Very good positive correlation is observed between rainfall and lightning during the premonsoon period, however, in the monsoon period a correlation between them is not so good. The different relationship between lightning and rainfall in the monsoon and premonsoon has been attributed to the low updraft during the monsoon period due to low cloud base height and low aerosol concentration during this period. This analysis shows that deep electrified convective systems do form over the central Indian region during active monsoon periods; however the relationship between convective rainfall and lightning frequency during this period is not as consistent as during the premonsoon period.     

Impact of 1/8° to 1/64° resolution on Gulf Stream model–data comparisons in basin-scale subtropical Atlantic Ocean models

We investigate the impact of 1/8°, 1/16°, 1/32°, and 1/64° ocean model resolution on model–data comparisons for the Gulf Stream system mainly between the Florida Straits and the Grand Banks. This includes mean flow and variability, the Gulf Stream pathway, the associated nonlinear recirculation gyres, the large-scale C-shape of the subtropical gyre and the abyssal circulation. A nonlinear isopycnal, free surface model covering the Atlantic from 9°N to 47°N or 51°N, including the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, and a similar 1/16° global model are used. The models are forced by winds and by a global thermohaline component via ports in the model boundaries. When calculated using realistic wind forcing and Atlantic model boundaries, linear simulations with Munk western boundary layers and a Sverdrup interior show two unrealistic mean Gulf Stream pathways between Cape Hatteras and the Grand Banks, one proceeding due east from Cape Hatteras and a second one continuing northward along the western boundary until forced eastward by the regional northern boundary. The northern pathway is augmented when a linear version of the upper ocean global thermohaline contribution to the Gulf Stream is added as a Munk western boundary layer. A major change is required to obtain a realistic pathway in nonlinear models. Resolution of 1/8° is eddy-resolving but mainly gives a wiggly version of the linear model Gulf Stream pathway and weak abyssal flows except for the deep western boundary current (DWBC) forced by ports in the model boundaries. All of the higher resolution simulations show major improvement over the linear and 1/8° nonlinear simulations. Additional major improvement is seen with the increase from 1/16° to 1/32° resolution and modest improvement with a further increase to 1/64°. The improvements include (1) realistic separation of the Gulf Stream from the coast at Cape Hatteras and a realistic Gulf Stream pathway between Cape Hatteras and the Grand Banks based on comparisons with Gulf Stream pathways from satellite IR and from GEOSAT and TOPEX/Poseidon altimetry (but 1/32° resolution was required for robust results), (2) realistic eastern and western nonlinear recirculation gyres (which contribute to the large-scale C-shape of the subtropical gyre) based on comparisons with mean surface dynamic height from the generalized digital environmental model (GDEM) oceanic climatology and from the pattern and amplitude of sea surface height (SSH) variability surrounding the eastern gyre as seen in TOPEX/Poseidon altimetry, (3) realistic upper ocean and DWBC transports based on several types of measurements, (4) patterns and amplitude of SSH variability which are generally realistic compared to TOPEX/Poseidon altimetry, but which vary from simulation to simulation for specific features and which are most realistic overall in the 1/64° simulation, (5) a basin wide explosion in the number and strength of mesoscale eddies (with warm core rings (WCRs) north of the Gulf Stream, the regional eddy features best observed by satellite IR), (6) realistic statistics for WCRs north of the Gulf Stream based on comparison to IR analyses (low at 1/16° resolution and most realistic at 1/64° resolution for mean population and rings generated/year; realistic ring diameters at all resolutions), and (7) realistic patterns and amplitude of abyssal eddy kinetic energy (EKE) in comparison to historical measurements from current meters.     

The ice nucleating ability of pollen: Part III: New laboratory studies in immersion and contact freezing modes including more pollen types

Based on earlier experimental studies, the ice nucleating abilities of further pollen types were investigated in the immersion and contact freezing modes. The studies were carried out at the Mainz vertical wind tunnel with freely floating supercooled droplets down to − 28 °C. The pollen had diameters between 26 and 28 μm and correspondingly low sink velocities around 2.5 cm s^{− 1}. The radii of the studied drops were calculated from the recorded wind velocity and for both freezing modes the radii of the observed droplets varied between 315 and 380 μm. Immersion freezing experiments were conducted with pollen particles added to the droplets while in contact freezing experiments supercooled droplets were subjected to a burst of pollen particles. The median freezing temperatures found in the immersion freezing mode were: − 13.5 °C (alder), − 21.5 °C (lombardy poplar), − 21.0 °C (redtop grass) and − 19.8 °C (kentucky blue). The median freezing temperatures in the contact freezing mode were found as: − 12.6 °C (alder), − 17.9 °C (lombardy poplar), − 18.7 °C (redtop grass) and − 16.1 °C (kentucky blue). The results show that the ice nucleating ability of pollen is not restricted to single pollen types but seems to be a general pollen property.     

Supercooled drizzle formed by condensation–coalescence in the mid-winter season of the Canadian Arctic

Supercooled drizzle (freezing drizzle) was observed at Inuvik, N.W.T., Canada (68°22′N, 133°42′W) on December 20, 21 and 27, 1995. Meteorological conditions in which the supercooled drizzle could form under low temperatures (colder than −20°C) in the mid-winter season of the Canadian Arctic were examined from the sounding data and data measured by a passive microwave radiometer at ground level. The following results were obtained. (1) Supercooled drizzle fell to the ground with ice pellets and frozen drops on snow crystals. (2) The maximum size of supercooled drizzle particles increased as the depth of cloud layer saturated with respect to water increased. (3) Because a layer of air temperature higher than 0°C was not detected from the sounding data at Inuvik, melting of snow particles was impossible. It was concluded, therefore, that supercooled drizzle was formed by the condensation–coalescence process below freezing temperature.     

Three-dimensional perspectives of the Florida current: transport, potential vorticity, and related dynamical properties

The Florida Current flows through the Straits of Florida, which starts as a zonal channel and turns to become a meridional channel. The spatial structure of the Florida Current and its transport, potential vorticity, and related dynamical properties are investigated using a three-dimensional, baroclinic, primitive equation model with a mesoscale-admitting (5.6 km) horizontal resolution and 25 vertical (sigma: terrain-following) levels. At 83°W, the Florida Current fills only a portion of the channel; however, due to the interaction with the shoaling bottom topography (from a maximum depth of over 2000 m at 83°W to less than 800 m at 27°N) and the narrowing Straits of Florida (from a maximum width of about 170 km at 83°W to about 110 km at 27°N), the Florida Current fills the entire channel at 27°N, and the potential vorticity distribution is altered. The specified transport of 28.6 Sverdrup (1 Sv = 10⁶ m³ s⁻¹) from the Loop Current at the western boundary and the inflow from the Old Bahama Channel of 1.9 Sv converge into the meridional channel. With an additional inflow of 1.2 Sv from the Northwest Providence Channel, the simulated total transport of 31.8 Sv at 27°N is comparable to the STACS (Subtropical Atlantic Climate Studies) mean transport of 31.7 Sv. Both vertically and laterally integrated subsectional transports are examined at transects 83°W, 82°W, 81°W, 25°N, 26°N, and 27°N. The potential vorticity increases (decreases) on the cyclonic (anticyclonic) side of the Florida Current at 27°N compared to 83°W. The downstream variation of static stability, relative vorticity, and Froude number is also examined. While the vertical shear is strong only on the northern side at 83°W it is comparable on the both western and eastern sides downstream at 27°N, reaching to the bottom of the meridional channel. Large values of the Froude number exist only in the upper 300 m of the zonal channel, but they reach to the bottom of the meridional channel.     

Exposure of global mountain systems to climate warming during the 21st Century

We provide an assessment of surface temperature changes in mountainous areas of the world using a set of climate projections at a 0.5° resolution for two 30-year periods (2040–2069 and 2070–2099), using four Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) emission scenarios and five AOGCM. Projected average temperature changes varied between +3.2 °C (+0.4 °C/per decade) and +2.1 °C (+0.26 °C/per decade) for 2055 and +5.3 °C (+0.48 °C/per decade) and +2.8 °C for 2085 (+0.25 °C/per decade). The temperature is expected to rise by a greater amount in higher northern latitude mountains than in mountains located in temperate and tropical zones. The rate of warming in mountain systems is projected to be two to three times higher than that recorded during the 20th century. The tendency for a greater projected warming in northern latitude mountain systems is consistent across scenarios and is in agreement with observed trends. In light of these projections, warming is considered likely to affect biodiversity (e.g., species extinctions, changes in the composition of assemblages), water resources (e.g., a reduction in the extent of glaciated areas and snow pack), and natural hazards (e.g., floods). Accurate estimate of the effects of climate change in mountain systems is difficult because of uncertainties associated with the climate scenarios and the existence of non-linear feedbacks between impacts.     

In situ measurements of contributions to the global electrical circuit by a thunderstorm in southeastern Brazil

The global electrical circuit, which maintains a potential of about 280 kV between the earth and the ionosphere, is thought to be driven mainly by thunderstorms and lightning. However, very few in situ measurements of electrical current above thunderstorms have been successfully obtained. In this paper, we present dc to very low frequency electric fields and atmospheric conductivity measured in the stratosphere (30–35 km altitude) above an active thunderstorm in southeastern Brazil. From these measurements, we estimate the mean quasi-static conduction current during the storm period to be 2.5 ± 1.25 A. Additionally, we examine the transient conduction currents following a large positive cloud-to-ground (+ CG) lightning flash and typical − CG flashes. We find that the majority of the total current is attributed to the quasi-static thundercloud charge, rather than lightning, which supports the classical Wilson model for the global electrical circuit.     

Laser depolarization studies of simulated crystallized H2O/H2SO4 clouds

Laboratory experiments were carried out to investigate the linear depolarization ratios (LDRs) of crystallized H₂O/H₂SO₄ acid clouds at angles of 45°, 135° and 157° to the forward direction. LDR is the ratio of the returned energies in the planes of polarization perpendicular and parallel to that of the source (Sassen, 1974). Experiments were carried out for different concentrations of aqueous solution of sulfuric acid. A cloud of supercooled droplets is formed inside an experimental chamber kept in a walk-in cold room by heating an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid, and the ice crystal formation is initiated by momentarily introducing a rod dipped in liquid nitrogen into the cloud. A 2-mW polarized He:Ne laser beam is directed through the cloud and a photomultiplier tube measures the scattered intensity. It is found that the scattered energy is higher in the direction of 157° and 135° than that at 45°. Microscopic examination of the crystals formed from acid concentrations above 50% shows dark fuzzy spots on the surface of the ice crystals suggesting that this could be a film of acid drops. This film also alters the shape of the crystals, and the crystal boundaries are no longer sharp and well defined like that observed for pure water clouds and this is found to influence the LDR.     

The remarkable wide range spatial scaling of TRMM precipitation

The advent of space borne precipitation radar has opened up the possibility of studying the variability of global precipitation over huge ranges of scale while avoiding many of the calibration and sparse network problems which plague ground based rain gage and radar networks. We studied 1176 consecutive orbits of attenuation-corrected near surface reflectivity measurements from the TRMM satellite PR instrument. We find that for well-measured statistical moments (orders 0 < q < 2) corresponding to radar reflectivities with dBZ < 57 and probabilities > 10^− 6, that the residuals with respect to a pure scaling (power law) variability are remarkably low: ± 6.4% over the range 20,000 km down to 4.3 km. We argue that higher order moments are biased due to inadequately corrected attenuation effects. When a stochastic three — parameter universal multifractal cascade model is used to model both the reflectivity and the minimum detectable signal of the radar (which was about twice the mean), we find that we can explain the same statistics to within ± 4.6% over the same range. The effective outer scale of the variability was found to be 32,000 ± 2000 km. The fact that this is somewhat larger than the planetary scale (20,000 km) is a consequence of the residual variability of precipitation at the planetary scales. With the help of numerical simulations we were able to estimate the three fundamental parameters as α ≈ 1.5, C₁ = 0.63 ± 0.02 and H = 0.00 ± 0.01 (the multifractal index, the codimension of the mean and the nonconservation parameter respectively). There was no error estimate on α since although α = 1.5 was roughly the optimum value, this conclusion depended on assumptions about the instrument at both low and high reflectivities. The value H = 0 means that the reflectivity can be modeled as a pure multiplicative process, i.e. that the reflectivity is conserved from scale to scale. We show that by extending the model down to the inner “relaxation scale” where the turbulence and rain decouple (in light rain, typically about 40 cm), that even without an explicit threshold, the model gives quite reasonable predictions about the frequency of occurrence of perceptible precipitation rates.While our basic findings (the scaling, outer scale) are almost exactly as predicted twenty years ago on the basis on ground based radar and the theory of anisotropic (stratified) cascades, they are incompatible with classical turbulence approaches which require at least two isotropic turbulence regimes separated by a meso-scale “gap”. They are also incompatible with classical meteorological phenomenology which identifies morphology with mechanism and breaks up the observed range 4 km–20 000 km into several subranges each dominated by different mechanisms. Finally, since the model specifies the variability over huge ranges, it shows promise for resolving long standing problems in rain measurement from both (typically sparse) rain gage networks and radars.     

Lightning evolution related to radar-derived microphysics in the 21 July 1998 EULINOX supercell storm

Results of a combined analysis of data from a C-band polarimetric Doppler radar and a 3D VHF interferometric lightning mapping system, as obtained during the European Lightning Nitrogen Oxides project (EULINOX) field campaign, are presented. For 21 July 1998, the lightning data from a supercell thunderstorm weakly indicate a tendency for a bi-level vertical distribution of lightning VHF emissions around the −15°C and −30°C temperature levels. Also, in some parts of the clouds, evidence is found for the presence of a lower positive charge center near the freezing level. However, where strong vertical motions prevail, VHF emissions are not organized in horizontal layers but in oblique or vertical regions. Correlation of VHF signals with radar quantities shows that in the growing storm, peak VHF activity is low and related to reflectivity factors around 30 dBZ, while after the mature stage, the peak VHF activity is about three times larger. The highest density of VHF signals is now found near reflectivity factors of 45 dBZ. A polarimetric hydrometeor classification indicates that during storm development, most lightning activity occurs where graupel and, secondarily, snow and small dry hail are present. In the decaying phase of the supercell hailstorm, however, most lightning VHF emissions stem from the region with hail and heavy rain. Furthermore, while the VHF signal frequency per cubic kilometer in the graupel and rain regions remains nearly constant throughout the supercell life cycle, the signal frequency in the hail region rises during storm decay.     

The Gulf Stream pathway and the impacts of the eddy-driven abyssal circulation and the Deep Western Boundary Current

A hydrodynamic model of the subtropical Atlantic basin and the Intra-Americas Sea (9–47°N) is used to investigate the dynamics of Gulf Stream separation from the western boundary at Cape Hatteras and its mean pathway to the Grand Banks. The model has five isopycnal Lagrangian layers in the vertical and allows realistic boundary geometry, bathymetry, wind forcing, and a meridional overturning circulation (MOC), the latter specified via ports in the northern and southern boundaries. The northward upper ocean branch of the MOC (14 Sv) was always included but the southward Deep Western Boundary Current (DWBC) was excluded in some simulations, allowing investigation of the impacts of the DWBC and the eddy-driven mean abyssal circulation on Gulf Stream separation from the western boundary. The result is resolution dependent with the DWBC playing a crucial role in Gulf Stream separation at 1/16° resolution but with the eddy-driven abyssal circulation alone sufficient to obtain accurate separation at 1/32° resolution and a realistic pathway from Cape Hatteras to the Grand Banks with minimal DWBC impact except southeast of the Grand Banks. The separation from the western boundary is particularly sensitive to the strength of the eddy-driven abyssal circulation. Farther to the east, between 68°W and the Grand Banks, all of the 1/16° and 1/32° simulations with realistic topography (with or without a DWBC) gave similar generally realistic mean pathways with clear impacts of the topographically constrained eddy-driven abyssal circulation versus very unrealistic Gulf Stream pathways between Cape Hatteras and the Grand Banks from otherwise identical simulations run with a flat bottom, in reduced-gravity mode, or with 1/8° resolution and realistic topography. The model is realistic enough to allow detailed model-data comparisons and a detailed investigation of Gulf Stream dynamics. The corresponding linear solution with a Sverdrup interior and Munk viscous western boundary layers, including one from the northward branch of the MOC, yielded two unrealistic Gulf Stream pathways, a broad eastward pathway centered at the latitude of Cape Hatteras and a second wind plus MOC-driven pathway hugging the western boundary to the north. Thus, a high resolution model capable of simulating an inertial jet is required to obtain a single nonlinear Gulf Stream pathway as it separates from the coast. None of the simulations were sufficiently inertial to overcome the linear solution need for a boundary current north of Cape Hatteras without assistance from pathway advection by the abyssal circulation, even though the core speeds of the simulated currents were consistent with observations near separation. In the 1/16° simulation with no DWBC and a 1/32° simulation with high bottom friction and no DWBC the model Gulf Stream overshot the observed separation latitude. With abyssal current assistance the simulated (and the observed) mean Gulf Stream pathway between separation from the western boundary and 70°W agreed closely with a constant absolute vorticity (CAV) trajectory influenced by the angle of the coastline prior to separation. The key abyssal current crosses under the Gulf Stream at 68.5–69°W and advects the Gulf Stream pathway southward to the terminus of an escarpment in the continental slope. There the abyssal current crosses to deeper depths to conserve potential vorticity while passing under the downward-sloping thermocline of the stream and then immediately retroflects eastward onto the abyssal plain, preventing further southward pathway advection. Thus specific topographic features and feedback from the impact of the Gulf Stream on the abyssal current pathway determined the latitude of the stream at 68.5–69°W, a latitude verified by observations. The associated abyssal current was also verified by observations.     

Charge source of cloud-to-ground lightning and charge structure of a typical thunderstorm in the Chinese Inland Plateau

GPS-synchronized measurements of electric (E) field changes induced by lightning flashes were recorded at six stations in the northeastern verge of the Tibetan Plateau. The height and magnitude of charge neutralized by 65 return strokes, including 16 negative cloud-to-ground (CG) flashes and 2 positive CG flashes, have been fitted with the nonlinear least-square method based on the E field changes of CG flashes observed in a typical thunderstorm with larger-than-usual lower positive charge center (LPCC). Results show that the height of the charge region neutralized by negative CG flashes ranges from 3 km to 5 km above the ground, corresponding to an ambient temperature between − 2 °C and − 15 °C. For the two positive CG flashes, the neutralized charge regions are located at a height of about 5.5 km and the ambient temperature is about − 18 °C, indicating the existence of upper positive charge in the thunderstorm.     

The climate of the coast and fog zone in the Tarapacá Region, Atacama Desert, Chile

In the Atacama Desert, the narrow littoral plain and the adjacent mountain range have a unique climate. This area is locally called the “coastal desert with abundant cloudiness”, and extends from the coastline up to an elevation of 1000 m. The climate is designated as being BWn according to Köppen's Climate Classification as adapted for Chile. In the original classification the acronym (Bn) is used for foggy environments. Toward the east a “normal desert” climate (BW) is found. This is known as one of the most extreme deserts of the world. In the BWn areas there are meteorological differences between low and high elevation zones. The climate of the coastal plains and the mountains is described in this paper in order to show that there is an area where the climate differs from those classified as BWn and BW in the Chilean Climate Classification. This area is located between 650 and 1200 m a.s.l. and contains several fog oases or lomas vegetation, rich in biodiversity and endemism.The weather is warmer near sea level, with an annual average temperature of 18 °C. At high elevation sites like Alto Patache, the temperature decreases at a rate of 0.7 °C for every 100-m increase in altitude. The average annual minimum temperature often approaches 1 °C in winter, while the mean annual temperature range is significant (8.3 °C in Los Cóndores). The mean monthly relative humidity in Alto Patache is over 80%, except during the summer months. During autumn, winter and spring high elevation fog is present in the study area at altitudes ranging from 650 m up to 1060 m, giving annual water yields of 0.8 to 7 L m^− 2 day^− 1. If vegetation is used as an indicator, the foggy zone lies between 650 m a.s.l. and 1200 m a.s.l. About 70% of the mountain range experiences the foggy climate, as opposed to the coastal plains that are characterized by a cloudy climate.     

LINET—An international lightning detection network in Europe

During the past years a VLF/LF lightning detection network (LINET) was developed at the University of Munich, which provides continuous data for both research and operational purposes. In particular, the network introduces five new features: a) total lightning capability: both cloud-to-ground strokes (CG) and cloud lightning (IC) are measured; b) low-amplitude reporting: weak lightning events from discharge channel with currents well below 5 kA are detected within the central part of the network, whereby IC events dominate; c) new 3D-discrimination: a time-of-arrival method is utilized to separate CG from IC with good reliability, provided that the sensor baseline does not exceed ~ 250 km; d) IC emission height: for each cloud event a height is determined which is thought to reflect the central region of the involved channel; and e) optimised location accuracy: due to precision and combined action of all influential network components, complemented by site-error corrections, the position accuracy of strokes reaches an average value as small as ~ 150 m, whereby false locations (‘outliers’) rarely occur. During international co-operations LINET has been deployed in four continents: Europe (initially Germany), South America (area of Bauru, Brazil), Australia (around Darwin), and Central Africa (Benin). Since the features quoted above could be verified in the tests, a 65-sensor network was established in Europe and started on May 1, 2006, in co-operation with the service company nowcast. LINET covers a wide area approximately from longitude − 10° to 25° to latitude 35° to 66°; it is available for scientific projects and officially utilized by the German Weather Service for operational purposes. Meanwhile, the network was extended by deployment of additional sites so that it comprises about 90 sensors in 17 countries.     

Enhanced spectral UV irradiance: a 1 year preliminary study

The ultraviolet (UV) spectra on cloudy days were compared to those on cloud free days to determine which part of the UV spectrum has the greatest enhancement due to the cloud compared to both corresponding measured clear sky spectra as well as other enhanced spectra. In this preliminary study, cloud enhanced UV spectra selected for maximum UVA enhancement compared to a clear sky UV spectrum at similar solar zenith angle (SZA) and ozone values, showed that the ratio of the two sets of spectral irradiances was approximately wavelength independent (approximately 1.1) above the cut-off wavelength of approximately 306 nm. Similarly, above 306 nm the average ratio of the spectral irradiances of a maximum UVB enhanced UV spectrum compared to a clear sky spectrum was 1.2 with maximum values generally above this average between 316 and 344 nm and generally below 1.2 above the wavelength of 344 nm. The UVA and UVB enhanced spectra were separated into five SZA ranges and the irradiance at each wavelength averaged for each range and compared to clear sky spectra in each of the ranges. Above approximately 306 nm, the ratios are wavelength independent for all SZA. However, with the exception of the SZA range centred on 20°, there is an increasing dependency with shorter wavelengths below the 306 nm. Also there appears to be two distinct groupings of the average irradiance ratios, corresponding to the SZA range centred on 20°, 37° and 49° (ratio of 1.2) and 32° and 42° (ratio 1.0), the latter cases suggesting that on average there is no enhancement for these SZA, except for wavelengths less than 306 nm.     

Sulfate-coated dust particles in the free troposphere over Japan

Airborne aerosol collections were performed over Wakasa bay (36°00′N, 135°30′E) in March and Kumano open sea (34°00′N, 136°50′E) and Seto (35°10′N, 137°10′E) in July 2001 at altitudes between 1.0 and 5.8 km. The particles were individually analyzed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Relatively large mineral-dust (mostly clay) particles were abundant in the March samples. They also dominated in July in the mid-troposphere higher than 4 km altitude, whereas sea salt and ammonium sulfate were more abundant at lower altitudes. Ca-coated grid samples show many traces of aqueous sulfate droplets. The proportions of former sulfate droplets to the total collected particles apparently increased with increasing relative humidity at the time of sampling. TEM analysis revealed that a significant fraction of these former droplets enclose mineral-dust particles as well as sea salt, soot, and fly ash. Some enclose mixtures of mineral-dust, sea-salt, soot, and fly ash particles. The results provide evidence that mineral dust from the Asian continent could acquire coatings of sulfate while being transported in the free troposphere. The mineral-dust particles probably acquired the sulfate coatings either through heterogeneous uptake of gaseous SO₂ and subsequent oxidation or through coagulation with cloud or fog droplets. The presence of the mixed particles in sulfate droplets also indicates that aggregation of particles of different origins occurred through cloud processing. Such sulfate-coated dust particles would affect cloud formation, precipitation, and chemistry of the free troposphere.     

Impact of Saharan dust on PM10 concentration in the Mediterranean Tunisian coasts

This paper presents samples of Saharan dust outbreak affecting the Mediterranean Tunisian coasts and its impact on PM10 (Particles with an aerodynamic diameter below 10 µm) surface concentrations measured at seven monitoring stations during summer 2006. During the events, the daily PM10 levels at all stations exceeded EU and Tunisian air quality standard limits which are equal to 50 µg/m³. The maximum values ranged from 200 µg/m³ to 300 µg/m³ depending on the monitoring station. The impact is even more dramatic on PM10 hourly concentrations leading to maximum hourly peaks ranging from 400 µg/m³ to 850 µg/m³ again depending on the monitoring station (industrial or residential, traffic and commercial). Comparison between backward air masses trajectories reaching Tunisian coasts and satellite imageries vis-à-vis the PM10 hourly concentrations measured at the monitoring stations during 2006 evidenced the influence of the Saharan dust outbreaks on surface concentrations. The origin of the air masses is found to be from South-West direction under the influence of air masses from the Algerian Saharan desert.     

Evaluation of TMPA satellite-based research and real-time rainfall estimates during six tropical-related heavy rainfall events over Louisiana, USA

This study focuses on the evaluation of 3-hourly 0.25° × 0.25° satellite-based rainfall estimates produced by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA). The evaluation is performed during six heavy rainfall events that were generated by tropical storms passing over Louisiana, United States. Two surface-based rainfall datasets from gauge and radar observations are used as a ground reference for evaluating the real-time (RT) version of the TMPA product and the post-real-time bias adjusted research version. The evaluation analysis is performed at the native temporal and spatial scales of the TMPA products, 3-hourly and 0.25° × 0.25°. Several graphical and statistical techniques are applied to characterize the deviation of the TMPA estimates from the reference datasets. Both versions of the TMPA products track reasonably well the temporal evolution and fluctuations of surface rainfall during the analyzed storms with moderate to high correlation values of 0.5–0.8. The TMPA estimates reported reasonable levels of rainfall detection especially when light rainfall rates are excluded. On a storm scale, the TMPA products are characterized by varying degrees of bias which was mostly within ± 25% and ± 50% for the research and RT products, respectively. Analysis of the error distribution indicated that, on average, the TMPA products tend to overestimate small rain rates and underestimate large rain rates. Compared to the real-time estimates, the research product shows significant improvement in the overall and conditional bias, and in the correlation coefficients, with slight deterioration in the probability of detecting rainfall occurrences. A fair agreement in terms of reproducing the tail of the distribution of rain rates (i.e., probability of surface rainfall exceeding certain thresholds) was observed especially for the RT estimates. Despite the apparent differences with surface rainfall estimates, the results reported in this study highlight the TMPA potential as a valuable resource of high-resolution rainfall information over many areas in the world that lack capabilities for monitoring landfalling tropical storms.     

Comparison of cloud-top height retrievals from ground-based 35 GHz MMCR and GMS-5 satellite observations at ARM TWP Manus site

Retrievals of cloud-top heights from the ARM 35 GHz Millimeter Wave Cloud Radar (MMCR) located on Manus Island are compared to those from the GMS-5 satellite as a means to evaluate the accuracy of both MMCR and GMS-5 retrievals, as well as to ascertain their limitations. Comparisons are carried out for retrievals of both single-layer and multilayer clouds as seen by radar, but only for satellite-detected clouds with 100% amount within a 0.3×0.3° domain centered at the ARM site of one cloud type (i.e., low, middle, or high). Mean differences, with 95% confidence limits, between radar- and satellite-retrieved cloud-top heights (i.e., radar-retrieved cloud-top heights−satellite-retrieved cloud-top heights) are 0.3±0.3 km for single-layer clouds and −0.7±0.3 km for multilayer clouds. The study reveals that for thick clouds (i.e., cloud base ≤1 km and cloud thickness ≥10 km), which are representative of convective towers with no/light precipitation as well as thick anvil clouds, retrievals from the MMCR agree well with those from satellite with mean differences of 0.0±0.4 and −0.2±0.3 km for single-layer and multilayer clouds, respectively. For clouds of lesser thickness, mean cloud-top heights derived from satellite are lower than those derived from radar by as much as 2.0 km. It is also shown that for convective clouds with heavy precipitation, MMCR retrievals underestimate the cloud-top heights significantly.     

Submicron aerosols over Indian Ocean: some meteorological characteristics

The concentrations of submicron aerosols in the size range 10⁻⁷ to 10⁻⁵ cm, also called Aitken nuclei (AN) were measured over the Indian Ocean enroute India-Antarctica-India within the 10°E–70°E longitude zone from about 10°N to 70°S latitude on board MV Thuleland during the period from November 26, 1986 to March 18, 1987 as part of the scientific activities on the Sixth Indian Antarctic Expedition. Our analyses showed that only in about 25% of the cases, AN count fell below 1000 cm⁻³. Throughout the tropical trade wind region, the concentrations of AN were relatively stable with an average of about 3000 cm⁻³ (medians of 2600 and 1700 cm⁻³ in Northern and Southern Hemispheres, respectively). Large AN concentrations were found to be associated with higher sea surface temperatures and stronger surface winds in this region. In contrast, the scatter of single observations was found to be remarkable over South Indian Ocean and in Antarctic waters. The average AN concentration over the Indian Ocean to the south of 30°S was of the order of 1500 cm⁻³. No definite correlation could be established between large AN concentration and sea surface temperature, wind speed or wave height. Period with very low concentrations were, however, associated with clear sky conditions and calm winds or light breeze. Many events of sudden short-lived but large increase in AN concentrations were observed over the south Indian Ocean and in Antarctic waters and these were always associated with the approach of frontal systems. It is likely that particle production by bursting bubbles and sea spray as well as photochemical reactions and gas-to-particle conversions play important role in the observed high concentration of AN over South Indian Ocean.