Estimation of mixed-phase cloud optical depth and position using in situ radiation and cloud microphysical measurements obtained from a tethered-balloon platform

M. Sikand, J. Koskulics, K. Stamnes, B. Hamre, J. J. Stamnes, R. P. Lawson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Microphysical and radiative measurements in boundary layer mixed-phase clouds (MPCs), consisting of ice crystals and liquid droplets, have been analyzed. These cloud measurements were collected during a May- June 2008 tethered-balloon campaign in Ny-Ag̊ lesund, Norway, located at 78.9°N, 11.9°E in the High Arctic. The instruments deployed on the tethered-balloon platform included a radiometer, a cloud particle imager (CPI), and a meteorological package. To analyze the data, a radiative transfer model (RTM) was constructed with two cloud layers-consistent with the CPI data-embedded in a background Rayleigh scattering atmosphere. The mean intensities estimated from the radiometer measurements on the balloon were used in conjunction with the RTM to quantify the vertical structure of the MPC system, while the downward irradiances measured by an upward-looking ground-based radiometer were used to constrain the total cloud optical depth. The time series of radiometer and CPI data obtained while profiling the cloud system was used to estimate the time evolution of the liquid water and ice particle optical depths as well as the vertical location of the two cloud layers.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)317-329
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of the Atmospheric Sciences
Volume70
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2013

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