Articles | Volume 19, issue 11
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-7547-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-7547-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
05 Jun 2019
Research article |
| 05 Jun 2019
Cloud responses to climate variability over the extratropical oceans as observed by MISR and MODIS
Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle,
Washington 98195-1640, USA
Roger Marchand
Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle,
Washington 98195-1640, USA
Related authors
Andrew Geiss, Sam J. Silva, and Joseph C. Hardin
Geosci. Model Dev., 15, 6677–6694, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-6677-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-6677-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This work demonstrates the use of modern machine learning techniques to enhance the resolution of atmospheric chemistry simulations. We evaluate the schemes for an 8 x 10 increase in resolution and find that they perform substantially better than conventional methods. Methods are introduced to target machine learning methods towards this type of problem, most notably by ensuring they do not break known physical constraints.
Andrew Geiss, Po-Lun Ma, Balwinder Singh, and Joseph C. Hardin
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-559, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-559, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Atmospheric aerosols play a critical role in Earth's climate, but it is too computationally expensive to directly model their interaction with radiation. This work develops a new neural network based parameterization of aerosol optical properties for use in the Energy Exascale Earth System model that is much more accurate than the current one, and introduces a unique model optimization method that involves randomly generating neural network architectures.
Andrew Geiss and Joseph C. Hardin
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 7729–7747, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-7729-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-7729-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Radars can suffer from missing or poor-quality data regions for several reasons: beam blockage, instrument failure, and near-ground blind zones, etc. Here, we demonstrate how deep convolutional neural networks can be used for filling in radar-missing data regions and that they can significantly outperform conventional approaches in terms of realism and accuracy.
Andrew Geiss, Sam J. Silva, and Joseph C. Hardin
Geosci. Model Dev., 15, 6677–6694, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-6677-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-6677-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This work demonstrates the use of modern machine learning techniques to enhance the resolution of atmospheric chemistry simulations. We evaluate the schemes for an 8 x 10 increase in resolution and find that they perform substantially better than conventional methods. Methods are introduced to target machine learning methods towards this type of problem, most notably by ensuring they do not break known physical constraints.
Andrew Geiss, Po-Lun Ma, Balwinder Singh, and Joseph C. Hardin
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-559, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-559, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Atmospheric aerosols play a critical role in Earth's climate, but it is too computationally expensive to directly model their interaction with radiation. This work develops a new neural network based parameterization of aerosol optical properties for use in the Energy Exascale Earth System model that is much more accurate than the current one, and introduces a unique model optimization method that involves randomly generating neural network architectures.
Andrew Geiss and Joseph C. Hardin
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 7729–7747, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-7729-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-7729-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Radars can suffer from missing or poor-quality data regions for several reasons: beam blockage, instrument failure, and near-ground blind zones, etc. Here, we demonstrate how deep convolutional neural networks can be used for filling in radar-missing data regions and that they can significantly outperform conventional approaches in terms of realism and accuracy.
Mark J. Webb, Timothy Andrews, Alejandro Bodas-Salcedo, Sandrine Bony, Christopher S. Bretherton, Robin Chadwick, Hélène Chepfer, Hervé Douville, Peter Good, Jennifer E. Kay, Stephen A. Klein, Roger Marchand, Brian Medeiros, A. Pier Siebesma, Christopher B. Skinner, Bjorn Stevens, George Tselioudis, Yoko Tsushima, and Masahiro Watanabe
Geosci. Model Dev., 10, 359–384, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-10-359-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-10-359-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
The Cloud Feedback Model Intercomparison Project (CFMIP) aims to improve understanding of cloud-climate feedback mechanisms and evaluation of cloud processes and cloud feedbacks in climate models. CFMIP also aims to improve understanding of circulation, regional-scale precipitation and non-linear changes. CFMIP is contributing to the 6th phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) by coordinating a hierarchy of targeted experiments with cloud-related model outputs.
Related subject area
Subject: Clouds and Precipitation | Research Activity: Remote Sensing | Altitude Range: Troposphere | Science Focus: Physics (physical properties and processes)
Surface-based observations of cold-air outbreak clouds during the COMBLE field campaign
Boundary layer moisture variability at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Eastern North Atlantic observatory during marine conditions
Profile-based estimated inversion strength
Characteristics of supersaturation in midlatitude cirrus clouds and their adjacent cloud-free air
Establishment of an analytical model for remote sensing of typical stratocumulus cloud profiles under various precipitation and entrainment conditions
Satellite remote sensing of regional and seasonal Arctic cooling showing a multi-decadal trend towards brighter and more liquid clouds
Microphysical processes of super typhoon Lekima (2019) and their impacts on polarimetric radar remote sensing of precipitation
The impacts of dust aerosol and convective available potential energy on precipitation vertical structure in southeastern China as seen from multisource observations
Heavy snowfall event over the Swiss Alps: did wind shear impact secondary ice production?
On the global relationship between polarimetric radio occultation differential phase shift and ice water content
Observations of microphysical properties and radiative effects of a contrail cirrus outbreak over the North Atlantic
Natural marine cloud brightening in the Southern Ocean
Distinct regional meteorological influences on low-cloud albedo susceptibility over global marine stratocumulus regions
Diurnal cycles of cloud cover and its vertical distribution over the Tibetan Plateau revealed by satellite observations, reanalysis datasets, and CMIP6 outputs
Satellite observations of seasonality and long-term trends in cirrus cloud properties over Europe: investigation of possible aviation impacts
Ice crystal characterization in cirrus clouds III: retrieval of ice crystal shape and roughness from observations of halo displays
Technical note: Identification of two ice-nucleating regimes for dust-related cirrus clouds based on the relationship between number concentrations of ice-nucleating particles and ice crystals
Highly supercooled riming and unusual triple-frequency radar signatures over McMurdo Station, Antarctica
Uncertainty in aerosol-cloud radiative forcing is driven by clean conditions
Ice microphysical processes in the dendritic growth layer: a statistical analysis combining multi-frequency and polarimetric Doppler cloud radar observations
Observing short-timescale cloud development to constrain aerosol–cloud interactions
Exploring relations between cloud morphology, cloud phase, and cloud radiative properties in Southern Ocean's stratocumulus clouds
Observations of cold-cloud properties in the Norwegian Arctic using ground-based and spaceborne lidar
An evaluation of the liquid cloud droplet effective radius derived from MODIS, airborne remote sensing, and in situ measurements from CAMP2Ex
A Lagrangian analysis of pockets of open cells over the southeastern Pacific
The formation and composition of the Mount Everest plume in winter
New insights on the prevalence of drizzle in marine stratocumulus clouds based on a machine learning algorithm applied to radar Doppler spectra
Addressing the difficulties in quantifying droplet number response to aerosol from satellite observations
Optically thin clouds in the trades
Stability-dependent increases in liquid water with droplet number in the Arctic
Lightning activity in northern Europe during a stormy winter: disruptions of weather patterns originating in global climate phenomena
A climatology of open and closed mesoscale cellular convection over the Southern Ocean derived from Himawari-8 observations
Methodology to determine the coupling of continental clouds with surface and boundary layer height under cloudy conditions from lidar and meteorological data
Albedo susceptibility of northeastern Pacific stratocumulus: the role of covarying meteorological conditions
Opportunistic experiments to constrain aerosol effective radiative forcing
Environmental effects on aerosol–cloud interaction in non-precipitating marine boundary layer (MBL) clouds over the eastern North Atlantic
Hemispheric contrasts in ice formation in stratiform mixed-phase clouds: disentangling the role of aerosol and dynamics with ground-based remote sensing
Microphysical process of precipitating hydrometeors from warm-front mid-level stratiform clouds revealed by ground-based lidar observations
Overview: Fusion of radar polarimetry and numerical atmospheric modelling towards an improved understanding of cloud and precipitation processes
A climatology of trade-wind cumulus cold pools and their link to mesoscale cloud organization
Global evidence of aerosol-induced invigoration in marine cumulus clouds
Impacts of the Saharan air layer on the physical properties of the Atlantic tropical cyclone cloud systems: 2003–2019
Two-year statistics of columnar-ice production in stratiform clouds over Hyytiälä, Finland: environmental conditions and the relevance to secondary ice production
Changes in cirrus cloud properties and occurrence over Europe during the COVID-19-caused air traffic reduction
A new conceptual model for adiabatic fog
Deciphering organization of GOES-16 green cumulus through the empirical orthogonal function (EOF) lens
Satellite retrieval of cloud base height and geometric thickness of low-level cloud based on CALIPSO
Lightning occurrences and intensity over the Indian region: long-term trends and future projections
Contrasting ice formation in Arctic clouds: surface-coupled vs. surface-decoupled clouds
Evaluation of the CMIP6 marine subtropical stratocumulus cloud albedo and its controlling factors
Zackary Mages, Pavlos Kollias, Zeen Zhu, and Edward P. Luke
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 3561–3574, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-3561-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-3561-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Cold-air outbreaks (when cold air is advected over warm water and creates low-level convection) are a dominant cloud regime in the Arctic, and we capitalized on ground-based observations, which did not previously exist, from the COMBLE field campaign to study them. We characterized the extent and strength of the convection and turbulence and found evidence of secondary ice production. This information is useful for model intercomparison studies that will represent cold-air outbreak processes.
Maria P. Cadeddu, Virendra P. Ghate, David D. Turner, and Thomas E. Surleta
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 3453–3470, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-3453-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-3453-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We analyze the variability in marine boundary layer moisture at the Eastern North Atlantic site on a monthly and daily temporal scale and examine its fundamental role in the control of boundary layer cloudiness and precipitation. The study also highlights the complex interaction between large-scale and local processes controlling the boundary layer moisture and the importance of the mesoscale spatial distribution of vapor to support convection and precipitation.
Zhenquan Wang, Jian Yuan, Robert Wood, Yifan Chen, and Tiancheng Tong
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 3247–3266, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-3247-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-3247-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This study develops a novel profile-based algorithm based on the ERA5 to estimate the inversion strength in the planetary boundary layer better than the previous inversion index, which is a key low-cloud-controlling factor. This improved measure is more effective at representing the meteorological influence on low-cloud variations. It can better constrain the meteorological influence on low clouds to better isolate cloud responses to aerosols or to estimate low cloud feedbacks in climate models.
Georgios Dekoutsidis, Silke Groß, Martin Wirth, Martina Krämer, and Christian Rolf
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 3103–3117, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-3103-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-3103-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Cirrus clouds affect Earth's atmosphere, deeming our study important. Here we use water vapor measurements by lidar and study the relative humidity (RHi) within and around midlatitude cirrus clouds. We find high supersaturations in the cloud-free air and within the clouds, especially near the cloud top. We study two cloud types with different formation processes. Finally, we conclude that the shape of the distribution of RHi can be used as an indicator of different cloud evolutionary stages.
Huazhe Shang, Souichiro Hioki, Guillaume Penide, Céline Cornet, Husi Letu, and Jérôme Riedi
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 2729–2746, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2729-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2729-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We find that cloud profiles can be divided into four prominent patterns, and the frequency of these four patterns is related to intensities of cloud-top entrainment and precipitation. Based on these analyses, we further propose a cloud profile parameterization scheme allowing us to represent these patterns. Our results shed light on how to facilitate the representation of cloud profiles and how to link them to cloud entrainment or precipitating status in future remote-sensing applications.
Luca Lelli, Marco Vountas, Narges Khosravi, and John Philipp Burrows
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 2579–2611, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2579-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2579-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Arctic amplification describes the recent period in which temperatures have been rising twice as fast as or more than the global average and sea ice and the Greenland ice shelf are approaching a tipping point. Hence, the Arctic ability to reflect solar energy decreases and absorption by the surface increases. Using 2 decades of complementary satellite data, we discover that clouds unexpectedly increase the pan-Arctic reflectance by increasing their liquid water content, thus cooling the Arctic.
Yabin Gou, Haonan Chen, Hong Zhu, and Lulin Xue
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 2439–2463, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2439-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2439-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This article investigates the complex precipitation microphysics associated with super typhoon Lekima using a host of in situ and remote sensing observations, including rain gauge and disdrometer data, as well as polarimetric radar observations. The impacts of precipitation microphysics on multi-source data consistency and radar precipitation estimation are quantified. It is concluded that the dynamical precipitation microphysical processes must be considered in radar precipitation estimation.
Hongxia Zhu, Rui Li, Shuping Yang, Chun Zhao, Zhe Jiang, and Chen Huang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 2421–2437, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2421-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2421-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The impacts of atmospheric dust aerosols and cloud dynamic conditions on precipitation vertical development in southeastern China were studied using multiple satellite observations. It was found that the precipitating drops under dusty conditions grow faster in the middle layer but slower in the upper and lower layers compared with their pristine counterparts. Quantitative estimation of the sensitivity of the precipitation top temperature to the dust aerosol optical depth is also provided.
Zane Dedekind, Jacopo Grazioli, Philip H. Austin, and Ulrike Lohmann
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 2345–2364, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2345-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2345-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Simulations allowing ice particles to collide with one another producing more ice particles represented surface observations of ice particles accurately. An increase in ice particles formed through collisions was related to sharp changes in the wind direction and speed with height. Changes in wind speed and direction can therefore cause more enhanced collisions between ice particles and alter how fast and how much precipitation forms. Simulations were conducted with the atmospheric model COSMO.
Ramon Padullés, Estel Cardellach, and F. Joseph Turk
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 2199–2214, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2199-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2199-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The results of comparing the polarimetric radio occultation observables and the ice water content retrieved from the CloudSat radar in a global and statistical way show a strong correlation between the geographical patterns of both quantities for a wide range of heights. This implies that horizontally oriented hydrometeors are systematically present through the whole globe and through all vertical levels, which could provide insights on the physical processes leading to precipitation.
Ziming Wang, Luca Bugliaro, Tina Jurkat-Witschas, Romy Heller, Ulrike Burkhardt, Helmut Ziereis, Georgios Dekoutsidis, Martin Wirth, Silke Groß, Simon Kirschler, Stefan Kaufmann, and Christiane Voigt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 1941–1961, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-1941-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-1941-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Differences in the microphysical properties of contrail cirrus and natural cirrus in a contrail outbreak situation during the ML-CIRRUS campaign over the North Atlantic flight corridor can be observed from in situ measurements. The cirrus radiative effect in the area of the outbreak, derived from satellite observation-based radiative transfer modeling, is warming in the early morning and cooling during the day.
Gerald G. Mace, Sally Benson, Ruhi Humphries, Peter M. Gombert, and Elizabeth Sterner
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 1677–1685, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-1677-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-1677-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The number of cloud droplets per unit volume is a significantly important property of clouds that controls their reflective properties. Computer models of the Earth's atmosphere and climate have low skill at predicting the reflective properties of Southern Ocean clouds. Here we investigate the properties of those clouds using satellite data and find that the cloud droplet number and cloud albedo in the Southern Ocean are related to the oceanic phytoplankton abundance near Antarctica.
Jianhao Zhang and Graham Feingold
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 1073–1090, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-1073-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-1073-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Using observations from space, we show maps of potential brightness changes in marine warm clouds in response to increases in cloud droplet concentrations. The environmental and aerosol conditions in which these clouds reside covary differently in each ocean basin, leading to distinct evolutions of cloud brightness changes. This work stresses the central importance of the covariability between meteorology and aerosol for scaling up the radiative response of cloud brightness changes.
Yuxin Zhao, Jiming Li, Lijie Zhang, Cong Deng, Yarong Li, Bida Jian, and Jianping Huang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 743–769, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-743-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-743-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Diurnal variations of clouds play an important role in the radiative budget and precipitation. Based on satellite observations, reanalysis, and CMIP6 outputs, the diurnal variations in total cloud cover and cloud vertical distribution over the Tibetan Plateau are explored. The diurnal cycle of cirrus is a key focus and found to have different characteristics from those found in the tropics. The relationship between the diurnal cycle of cirrus and meteorological factors is also discussed.
Qiang Li and Silke Groß
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 15963–15980, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-15963-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-15963-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The IPCC report identified that cirrus clouds have a significant impact on the radiation balance comparable to the CO2 effects, which, however, is still hard to parameterize. The current study investigates the possible impact of aviation on cirrus properties based on the analysis of 10-year lidar measurements of CALIPSO. The results reveal that there is a significant positive trend in cirrus depolarization ratio in the last 10 years before COVID-19, which is strongly correlated with aviation.
Linda Forster and Bernhard Mayer
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 15179–15205, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-15179-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-15179-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We present a novel retrieval using ground-based imaging observations of halo displays together with radiative transfer simulations to help improve our understanding of ice crystal properties representative of cirrus clouds. Analysis of 4400 calibrated HaloCam images featuring a 22° halo revealed aggregates of hexagonal columns of 20 µm effective radius with a mixture of about 37 % smooth and 63% severely roughened surfaces as the best match in general.
Yun He, Zhenping Yin, Fuchao Liu, and Fan Yi
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 13067–13085, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-13067-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-13067-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
A method is proposed to identify the sole presence of heterogeneous nucleation and competition between heterogeneous and homogeneous nucleation for dust-related cirrus clouds by characterizing the relationship between dust ice-nucleating particle concentration calculated from CALIOP using the POLIPHON method and in-cloud ice crystal number concentration from the DARDAR-Nice dataset. Two typical cirrus cases are shown as a demonstration, and the proposed method can be extended to a global scale.
Frederic Tridon, Israel Silber, Alessandro Battaglia, Stefan Kneifel, Ann Fridlind, Petros Kalogeras, and Ranvir Dhillon
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 12467–12491, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-12467-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-12467-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The role of ice precipitation in the Earth water budget is not well known because ice particles are complex, and their formation involves intricate processes. Riming of ice crystals by supercooled water droplets is an efficient process, but little is known about its importance at high latitudes. In this work, by exploiting the deployment of an unprecedented number of remote sensing systems in Antarctica, we find that riming occurs at much lower temperatures compared with the mid-latitudes.
Edward Gryspeerdt, Adam C. Povey, Roy G. Grainger, Otto Hasekamp, N. Christina Hsu, Jane P. Mulcahy, Andrew M. Sayer, and Armin Sorooshian
Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2022-642, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2022-642, 2022
Revised manuscript accepted for ACP
Short summary
Short summary
The impact of aerosols on clouds is one of the largest uncertainties in the human forcing of the climate. Aerosol can increase the concentrations of droplets in clouds, but observational and model studies produce widely varying estimates of this effect. We show that these estimates can be reconciled if only polluted clouds are studied, but that this is insufficient to constrain their climate impact. The uncertainty in aerosol impact on cloud is currently driven by cases with not much aerosol.
Leonie von Terzi, José Dias Neto, Davide Ori, Alexander Myagkov, and Stefan Kneifel
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 11795–11821, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-11795-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-11795-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We present a statistical analysis of ice microphysical processes (IMP) in mid-latitude clouds. Combining various radar approaches, we find that the IMP active at −20 to −10 °C seems to be the main driver of ice particle size, shape and concentration. The strength of aggregation at −20 to −10 °C correlates with the increase in concentration and aspect ratio of locally formed ice particles. Despite ongoing aggregation, the concentration of ice particles stays enhanced until −4 °C.
Edward Gryspeerdt, Franziska Glassmeier, Graham Feingold, Fabian Hoffmann, and Rebecca J. Murray-Watson
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 11727–11738, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-11727-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-11727-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The response of clouds to changes in aerosol remains a large uncertainty in our understanding of the climate. Studies typically look at aerosol and cloud processes in snapshot images, measuring all properties at the same time. Here we use multiple images to characterise how cloud temporal development responds to aerosol. We find a reduction in liquid water path with increasing aerosol, party due to feedbacks. This suggests the aerosol impact on cloud water may be weaker than in previous studies.
Jessica Danker, Odran Sourdeval, Isabel L. McCoy, Robert Wood, and Anna Possner
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 10247–10265, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-10247-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-10247-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Using spaceborne lidar-radar retrievals, we show that seasonal changes in cloud phase outweigh changes in cloud-phase statistics across cloud morphologies at given cloud-top temperatures. These results show that cloud morphology does not seem to pose a primary constraint on cloud-phase statistics in the Southern Ocean. Meanwhile, larger changes in in-cloud albedo across cloud morphologies are observed in supercooled liquid rather than mixed-phase stratocumuli.
Britta Schäfer, Tim Carlsen, Ingrid Hanssen, Michael Gausa, and Trude Storelvmo
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 9537–9551, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-9537-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-9537-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Cloud properties are important for the surface radiation budget. This study presents cold-cloud observations based on lidar measurements from the Norwegian Arctic between 2011 and 2017. Using statistical assessments and case studies, we give an overview of the macro- and microphysical properties of these clouds and demonstrate the capabilities of long-term cloud observations in the Norwegian Arctic from the ground-based lidar at Andenes.
Dongwei Fu, Larry Di Girolamo, Robert M. Rauber, Greg M. McFarquhar, Stephen W. Nesbitt, Jesse Loveridge, Yulan Hong, Bastiaan van Diedenhoven, Brian Cairns, Mikhail D. Alexandrov, Paul Lawson, Sarah Woods, Simone Tanelli, Sebastian Schmidt, Chris Hostetler, and Amy Jo Scarino
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 8259–8285, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-8259-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-8259-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Satellite-retrieved cloud microphysics are widely used in climate research because of their central role in water and energy cycles. Here, we provide the first detailed investigation of retrieved cloud drop sizes from in situ and various satellite and airborne remote sensing techniques applied to real cumulus cloud fields. We conclude that the most widely used passive remote sensing method employed in climate research produces high biases of 6–8 µm (60 %–80 %) caused by 3-D radiative effects.
Kevin M. Smalley, Matthew D. Lebsock, Ryan Eastman, Mark Smalley, and Mikael K. Witte
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 8197–8219, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-8197-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-8197-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We use geostationary satellite observations to track pockets of open-cell (POC) stratocumulus and analyze how precipitation, cloud microphysics, and the environment change. Precipitation becomes more intense, corresponding to increasing effective radius and decreasing number concentrations, while the environment remains relatively unchanged. This implies that changes in cloud microphysics are more important than the environment to POC development.
Edward E. Hindman and Scott Lindstrom
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 7995–8008, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-7995-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-7995-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Winds buffeting the Mt. Everest massif often produce plumes. This systematic study identified plumes from daily observations of real-time, on-line images from a geosynchronous meteorological satellite. The corresponding meteorological data were used with a cloud-forming model to show the plumes were composed, depending on the temperature, of droplets, crystals or both. They were not composed of resuspended snow, which is a common belief. We estimated the plumes may produce significant snowfall.
Zeen Zhu, Pavlos Kollias, Edward Luke, and Fan Yang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 7405–7416, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-7405-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-7405-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Drizzle (small rain droplets) is an important component of warm clouds; however, its existence is poorly understood. In this study, we capitalized on a machine-learning algorithm to develop a drizzle detection method. We applied this algorithm to investigate drizzle occurrence and found out that drizzle is far more ubiquitous than previously thought. This study demonstrates the ubiquitous nature of drizzle in clouds and will improve understanding of the associated microphysical process.
Hailing Jia, Johannes Quaas, Edward Gryspeerdt, Christoph Böhm, and Odran Sourdeval
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 7353–7372, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-7353-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-7353-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Aerosol–cloud interaction is the most uncertain component of the anthropogenic forcing of the climate. By combining satellite and reanalysis data, we show that the strength of the Twomey effect (S) increases remarkably with vertical velocity. Both the confounding effect of aerosol–precipitation interaction and the lack of vertical co-location between aerosol and cloud are found to overestimate S, whereas the retrieval biases in aerosol and cloud appear to underestimate S.
Theresa Mieslinger, Bjorn Stevens, Tobias Kölling, Manfred Brath, Martin Wirth, and Stefan A. Buehler
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 6879–6898, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-6879-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-6879-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The trades are home to a plethora of small cumulus clouds that are often barely visible to the human eye and difficult to detect with active and passive remote sensing methods. With the help of a new method and by means of high-resolution data we can detect small and particularly thin clouds. We find that optically thin clouds are a common phenomenon in the trades, covering a large area and influencing the radiative effect of clouds if they are undetected and contaminate the cloud-free signal.
Rebecca J. Murray-Watson and Edward Gryspeerdt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 5743–5756, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-5743-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-5743-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Clouds are important to the Arctic surface energy budget, but the impact of aerosols on their properties is largely uncertain. This work shows that the response of liquid water path to cloud droplet number increases is strongly dependent on lower tropospheric stability (LTS), with weaker cooling effects in polluted clouds and at high LTS. LTS is projected to decrease in a warmer Arctic, reducing the cooling effect of aerosols and producing a positive, aerosol-dependent cloud feedback.
Ivana Kolmašová, Ondřej Santolík, and Kateřina Rosická
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 3379–3389, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-3379-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-3379-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The 2014–2015 winter brought an enormous number of lightning strokes to northern Europe, about 4 times more than their long-term median over the last decade. This unusual production of lightning, concentrated above the ocean and along the western coastal areas, was probably due to a combination of large-scale climatic events like El Niño and the North Atlantic Oscillation, causing increased sea surface temperatures and updraft strengths, which acted as additional thundercloud-charging drivers.
Francisco Lang, Luis Ackermann, Yi Huang, Son C. H. Truong, Steven T. Siems, and Michael J. Manton
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 2135–2152, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-2135-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-2135-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Marine low-level clouds cover vast areas of the Southern Ocean, and they are essential to the Earth system energy balance. We use 3 years of satellite observations to group low-level clouds by their spatial structure using a pattern-recognizing program. We studied two primary cloud type patterns, i.e. open and closed clouds. Open clouds are uniformly distributed over the storm track, while closed clouds are most predominant in the southeastern Indian Ocean. Closed clouds exhibit a daily cycle.
Tianning Su, Youtong Zheng, and Zhanqing Li
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 1453–1466, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-1453-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-1453-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
To enrich our understanding of coupling of continental clouds, we developed a novel methodology to determine cloud coupling state from a lidar and a suite of surface meteorological instruments. This method is built upon advancement in our understanding of fundamental boundary layer processes and clouds. As the first remote sensing method for determining the coupling state of low clouds over land, this methodology paves a solid ground for further investigating the coupled land–atmosphere system.
Jianhao Zhang, Xiaoli Zhou, Tom Goren, and Graham Feingold
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 861–880, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-861-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-861-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Oceanic liquid-form clouds are effective sunlight reflectors. Their brightness is highly sensitive to changes in the amount of aerosol particles in the atmosphere and the state of the atmosphere they reside in. This study quantifies this sensitivity using long-term satellite observations and finds an overall cloud brightening (a cooling effect) potential and an essential role of the covarying meteorological conditions in governing this sensitivity for northeastern Pacific stratocumulus.
Matthew W. Christensen, Andrew Gettelman, Jan Cermak, Guy Dagan, Michael Diamond, Alyson Douglas, Graham Feingold, Franziska Glassmeier, Tom Goren, Daniel P. Grosvenor, Edward Gryspeerdt, Ralph Kahn, Zhanqing Li, Po-Lun Ma, Florent Malavelle, Isabel L. McCoy, Daniel T. McCoy, Greg McFarquhar, Johannes Mülmenstädt, Sandip Pal, Anna Possner, Adam Povey, Johannes Quaas, Daniel Rosenfeld, Anja Schmidt, Roland Schrödner, Armin Sorooshian, Philip Stier, Velle Toll, Duncan Watson-Parris, Robert Wood, Mingxi Yang, and Tianle Yuan
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 641–674, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-641-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-641-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Trace gases and aerosols (tiny airborne particles) are released from a variety of point sources around the globe. Examples include volcanoes, industrial chimneys, forest fires, and ship stacks. These sources provide opportunistic experiments with which to quantify the role of aerosols in modifying cloud properties. We review the current state of understanding on the influence of aerosol on climate built from the wide range of natural and anthropogenic laboratories investigated in recent decades.
Xiaojian Zheng, Baike Xi, Xiquan Dong, Peng Wu, Timothy Logan, and Yuan Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 335–354, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-335-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-335-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This study uses ground-based observations to investigate the physical processes in the aerosol–cloud interactions in non-precipitating marine boundary layer clouds, over the eastern North Atlantic Ocean. Results show that the cloud responses to the aerosols are diminished with limited water vapor supply, while they are enhanced with increasing water vapor availability. The clouds are found to be most sensitive to the aerosols under sufficient water vapor and strong boundary layer turbulence.
Martin Radenz, Johannes Bühl, Patric Seifert, Holger Baars, Ronny Engelmann, Boris Barja González, Rodanthi-Elisabeth Mamouri, Félix Zamorano, and Albert Ansmann
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 17969–17994, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-17969-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-17969-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This study brings together long-term ground-based remote-sensing observations of mixed-phase clouds at three key locations of aerosol–cloud interactions in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere midlatitudes. The findings contribute several new aspects on the nature of the excess of supercooled liquid clouds in the Southern Hemisphere, such as a long-term lidar-based estimate of ice-nucleating particle profiles as well as the effects of boundary layer coupling and gravity waves on ice formation.
Yang Yi, Fan Yi, Fuchao Liu, Yunpeng Zhang, Changming Yu, and Yun He
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 17649–17664, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-17649-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-17649-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Our lidar observations reveal the complete microphysical process of hydrometeors falling from mid-level stratiform clouds. We find that the surface rainfall begins as supercooled mixed-phase hydrometeors fall out of a liquid parent cloud base. We find also that the collision–coalescence growth of precipitating raindrops and subsequent spontaneous breakup always occur around 0.6 km altitude during surface rainfalls. Our findings provide new insights into stratiform precipitation formation.
Silke Trömel, Clemens Simmer, Ulrich Blahak, Armin Blanke, Sabine Doktorowski, Florian Ewald, Michael Frech, Mathias Gergely, Martin Hagen, Tijana Janjic, Heike Kalesse-Los, Stefan Kneifel, Christoph Knote, Jana Mendrok, Manuel Moser, Gregor Köcher, Kai Mühlbauer, Alexander Myagkov, Velibor Pejcic, Patric Seifert, Prabhakar Shrestha, Audrey Teisseire, Leonie von Terzi, Eleni Tetoni, Teresa Vogl, Christiane Voigt, Yuefei Zeng, Tobias Zinner, and Johannes Quaas
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 17291–17314, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-17291-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-17291-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The article introduces the ACP readership to ongoing research in Germany on cloud- and precipitation-related process information inherent in polarimetric radar measurements, outlines pathways to inform atmospheric models with radar-based information, and points to remaining challenges towards an improved fusion of radar polarimetry and atmospheric modelling.
Raphaela Vogel, Heike Konow, Hauke Schulz, and Paquita Zuidema
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 16609–16630, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-16609-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-16609-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The shallow cumulus clouds that populate the trade-wind regions can produce substantial amounts of rain. Before reaching the surface, part of the rain can evaporate and form pools of cold air that spread at the surface as density currents. We use 10 years of data from Barbados to show that such cold pools occur on 3 out of 4 d, that cold-pool periods are 90 % cloudier relative to the average winter conditions, and that they are connected to specific patterns of mesoscale cloud organization.
Alyson Douglas and Tristan L'Ecuyer
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 15103–15114, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-15103-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-15103-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
When aerosols enter the atmosphere, they interact with the clouds above in what we term aerosol–cloud interactions and lead to a series of reactions which delay the onset of rain. This delay may lead to increased rain rates, or invigoration, when the cloud eventually rains. We show that aerosol leads to invigoration in certain environments. The strength of the invigoration depends on how large the cloud is, which suggests that it is highly tied to the organization of the cloud system.
Hao Luo and Yong Han
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 15171–15184, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-15171-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-15171-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The various feedbacks of Atlantic tropical cyclones (TCs) to the Saharan air layer (SAL) are determined by the combined effects of dry air masses, the dust aerosols as ice nuclei, and dynamic, thermodynamic, and moisture conditions. The specific influence mechanisms of SAL on the three intensities of TCs (tropical depression, tropical storm, and hurricane) are different. The conclusions are beneficial to our recognition of the physical process and evolution of TCs in the Atlantic region.
Haoran Li, Ottmar Möhler, Tuukka Petäjä, and Dmitri Moisseev
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 14671–14686, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-14671-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-14671-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
In natural clouds, ice-nucleating particles are expected to be rare above –10 °C. In the current paper, we found that the formation of ice columns is frequent in stratiform clouds and is associated with increased precipitation intensity and liquid water path. In single-layer shallow clouds, the production of ice columns was attributed to secondary ice production, despite the rime-splintering process not being expected to take place in such clouds.
Qiang Li and Silke Groß
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 14573–14590, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-14573-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-14573-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Aircraft emit exhaust gases and particles directly into the atmosphere, which may contribute to climate change. We present a significant reduction in the occurrence rate and particle linear depolarization ratio of cirrus clouds based on the analysis of measurements with the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) satellite during COVID-19 when air traffic was significantly reduced. The findings imply that these clouds formed with less influence from aviation.
Felipe Toledo, Martial Haeffelin, Eivind Wærsted, and Jean-Charles Dupont
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 13099–13117, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-13099-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-13099-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The article presents a new conceptual model to describe the temporal evolution of continental fog layers, developed based on 7 years of fog measurements performed at the SIRTA observatory, France. This new paradigm relates the visibility reduction caused by fog to its vertical thickness and liquid water path and provides diagnostic variables that could substantially improve the reliability of fog dissipation nowcasting at a local scale, based on real-time profiling observation.
Tom Dror, Mickaël D. Chekroun, Orit Altaratz, and Ilan Koren
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 12261–12272, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-12261-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-12261-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
A part of continental shallow convective cumulus (Cu) was shown to share properties such as organization and formation over vegetated areas, thus named green Cu. Mechanisms behind the formed patterns are not understood. We use different metrics and an empirical orthogonal function (EOF) to decompose the dataset and quantify organization factors (cloud streets and gravity waves). We show that clouds form a highly organized grid structure over hundreds of kilometers at the field lifetime.
Xin Lu, Feiyue Mao, Daniel Rosenfeld, Yannian Zhu, Zengxin Pan, and Wei Gong
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 11979–12003, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-11979-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-11979-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
In this paper, a novel method for retrieving cloud base height and geometric thickness is developed and applied to produce a global climatology of boundary layer clouds with a high accuracy. The retrieval is based on the 333 m resolution low-level cloud distribution as obtained from the CALIPSO lidar data. The main part of the study describes the variability of cloud vertical geometrical properties in space, season, and time of the day. Resultant new insights are presented.
Rohit Chakraborty, Arindam Chakraborty, Ghouse Basha, and Madineni Venkat Ratnam
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 11161–11177, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-11161-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-11161-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, urbanization-induced surface warming has been found to trigger prominent changes in upper-troposphere–lower-stratosphere regions leading to stronger and more frequent lightning extremes over India. Consequently, the implementation of this hypothesis in global climate models reveals that lightning frequency and intensity values across India will rise by ~10–25 % and 15–50 %, respectively, by 2100 at the current urbanization rate, which should be alarming for present policymakers.
Hannes J. Griesche, Kevin Ohneiser, Patric Seifert, Martin Radenz, Ronny Engelmann, and Albert Ansmann
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 10357–10374, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-10357-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-10357-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Heterogeneous ice formation in Arctic mixed-phase clouds under consideration of their surface-coupling state is investigated. Cloud phase and macrophysical properties were determined by means of lidar and cloud radar measurements, the coupling state, and cloud minimum temperature by radiosonde profiles. Above −15 °C cloud minimum temperature, surface-coupled clouds are more likely to contain ice by a factor of 2–6. By means of a literature survey, causes of the observed effects are discussed.
Bida Jian, Jiming Li, Guoyin Wang, Yuxin Zhao, Yarong Li, Jing Wang, Min Zhang, and Jianping Huang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 9809–9828, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-9809-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-9809-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We evaluate the performance of the AMIP6 model in simulating cloud albedo over marine subtropical regions and the impacts of different aerosol types and meteorological factors on the cloud albedo based on multiple satellite datasets and reanalysis data. The results show that AMIP6 demonstrates moderate improvement over AMIP5 in simulating the monthly variation in cloud albedo, and changes in different aerosol types and meteorological factors can explain ~65 % of the changes in the cloud albedo.
Cited articles
Adames, A. and Wallace, J.: Three-Dimensional Structure and Evolution of the
MJO and its Relation to the Mean Flow, J. Atmos. Sci., 71, 2007–2026,
https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-13-0254.1, 2014.
Arblaster, M. and Meehl, G.: Contributions of External Forcings to Southern
Annular Mode Trends, J. Climate, 19, 2896–2905, https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI3774.1,
2006.
Barnston, A. and Livezey, R.: Classification, Seasonality and Persistence of
Low-Frequency Atmospheric Circulation Patterns, Mon. Weather Rev., 115,
1083–1126, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0493(1987)115<1083:CSAPOL>2.0.CO;2, 1987.
Bender, F., Ramanathan, V., and Tselioudis, T.: Changes in Extratropical
Storm Track Cloudiness 1983–2008: Observational Support for a Poleward
Shift, Clim. Dynam., 38, 2037–2053, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-011-1065-6, 2011.
Bodas-Salcedo, A., Williams, K., Ringer, M., Beau, I., Cole, J., Dufresne,
J.-L., Koshiro, T., Stevens, B., Wang, Z., and Yokohata, T.: Origins of the
Solar Radiation Biases over the Southern Ocean in CFMIP2 Models, J. Climate,
27, 41–56, https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-13-00169.1, 2014.
Bony, S., Colman, R., Kattsov, V., Allan, R., Bretherton, C., Dufresne,
J.-L., Hall, A., Hallegatte, S., Holland, M., Ingram, W., Randall, D., Soden,
B., Tselioudis, G., and Webb, M.: How Well do we Understand and Evaluate
Climate Change Feedback Processes?, J. Climate, 19, 3445–3482,
https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI3819.1, 2006.
Boucher, O., Randall, D., Artaxo, P., Bretherton, C., Feingold, G., Forster,
P., Kerminen, V.-M., Kondo, Y., Liao, H., Lohmann, U., Rasch, P., Satheesh,
S. K., Sherwood, S., Stevens, B., and Zhang, X. Y.: Clouds and Aerosols, in:
Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis, Contribution of Working
Group I to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change, Cambridge University Press, 571–658,
https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107415324, 2013.
Bretherton, C., Smith, C., and Wallace, J.: An Intercomparison of Methods for
Finding Coupled Patterns in Climate Data, J. Climate, 5, 541–560,
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0442(1992)005<0541:AIOMFF>2.0.CO;2, 1992.
Bruegge, C., Val, S., Diner, D., Jovanovic, V., Gray, E., Girolamo, L., and
Zhao, G.: Radiometric stability of the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer
(MISR) following 15 years on-orbit, Proc. SPIE, 9218, 92180N, Earth Observing
Systems XIX, https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2062319, 2014.
Caldwell, P., Zelinka, M., Taylor, K., and Marvel, K.: Quantifying the
sources of intermodel spread in equilibrium climate sensitivity, J. Clim.,
29, 513–524, https://doi.org/10.1175/jcli-d-15-0352.1, 2016.
Ceppi, P. and Hartmann, D.: Connections Between Clouds, Radiation, and
Midlatitude Dynamics: A Review, Curr. Clim. Change Rep., 1, 94–102, 2015.
Corbett, G. and Loeb, N.: On the relative stability of CERES reflected
shortwave and MISR and MODIS visible radiance measurements during the terra
satellite mission, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 120, 11608–11616,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JD023484, 2015.
Czaja, A. and Frankignoul, C.: Influence of the North Atlantic SST on the
Atmospheric Circulation, Geophys. Res. Lett., 26, 2969–2972, 1999.
Dee, D. P., Uppala, S. M., Simmons, A. J., Berrisford, P., Poli, P.,
Kobayashi, S., Andrae, U., Balmaseda, M. A., Balsamo, G., Bauer, P.,
Bechtold, P., Beljaars, A. C. M., van de Berg, I., Biblot, J., Bormann, N.,
Delsol, C., Dragani, R., Fuentes, M., Greer, A. J., Haimberger, L., Healy, S.
B., Hersbach, H., Holm, E. V., Isaksen, L., Kallberg, P., Kohler, M.,
Matricardi, M., McNally, A. P., Mong-Sanz, B. M., Morcette, J.-J., Park,
B.-K., Peubey, C., de Rosnay, P., Tavolato, C., Thepaut, J. N., and Vitart,
F.: The ERA-Interim reanalysis: Configuration and performance of the data
assimilation system, Q. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 137, 553–597,
https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.828, 2011.
Dessler, A. and Davis, S.: Trends in Tropospheric Humidity from Reanalysis
Systems, J. Geophys. Res., 115, D19127, https://doi.org/10.1029/2010JD014192, 2010.
Diner, D. J., Beckert, J. C., Reilly, T. H., Bruegge, C. J., Conel, J. E.,
Kahn, R. A., Motonchik, J. V., Ackerman, T. P., Davies, R., Gerstl, S. A. W.,
Gordon, H. R., Muller, J.-P., Myneni, R. B., Sellers, P. J., Pinty, B., and
Verstraete, M. M.: Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) description
and experiment overview, IEEE T. Geosci. Remote, 36, 1072–1087, 1998.
Dirkson, A., Merryfield, W., and Monahan, A.: Real-time Estimation of Arctic
Sea Ice Thickness through Maximum Covariance Analysis, Geophys. Res. Lett.,
42, 4869–4877, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL063930, 2015.
Evan, T., Heidinger, A., and Vimont, D.: Arguments against a physical
long-term trend in global ISCCP cloud amounts, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34,
L04701, https://doi.org/10.1029/2006GL028083, 2007.
Frankignoul, C., Chouaib, N., and Liu, Z.: Estimating the Observed
Atmospheric Response to SST Anomalies: Maximum Covariance Analysis,
Generalized Equilibrium Feedback Assessment, and Maximum Response Estimation,
J. Clim., 24, 2523–2539, https://doi.org/10.1175/2010JCLI3696.1, 2011.
Gordon, N. D. and Norris, J. R.: Cluster analysis of midlatitude oceanic
cloud regimes: mean properties and temperature sensitivity, Atmos. Chem.
Phys., 10, 6435–6459, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-10-6435-2010, 2010.
Gordon, N., Norris, J., Weaver, C., and Klein, S.: Cluster Analysis of Cloud
regimes and Characteristic Dynamics of Midlatitude Synoptic Systems in
Observations and a Model, J. Geophys. Res., 110, D15S17,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2004JD005027, 2005.
Hannachi, A., Jolliffe, I., and Stephenson, D.: Empirical Orthogonal
Functions and Related Techniques in Atmospheric Science: A Review, Int. J.
Climatol., 27, 1119–1152, https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.1499, 2007.
Hubanks, P., Platnick, S., King, M., and Ridgway, B.: MODIS Atmosphere L3
Gridded Product Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document for C6, available at:
http://modis-atmos.gsfc.nasa.gov/_docs/L3_ATBD_C6.pdf (last access:
3 May 2016), 2015.
Hurrell, J. and National Center for Atmospheric Research Staff (Eds): The
Climate Data Guide: North Pacific (NP) Index by Trenberth and Hurrell;
monthly and winter, available at:
https://climatedataguide.ucar.edu/climate-data/north-pacific-np-index-trenberth-and-hurrell-monthly-and-winter
(last access: 29 December 2015), 1994 (updated 2019).
Hwang, Y.-T. and Frierson, D.: Link between the double-Intertropical
Convergence Zone problem and cloud biases over the Southern Ocean, P. Natl.
Acad. Sci. USA, 110, 4935–4940, 2013.
Kay, J.E., Hillman, B. R., Klein, S. A., Zhang, Y., Medeiros, R., Pincus, R.,
Gettelman, A., Eaton, B., Boyle, J., Marchand, R., and Ackerman, T.: Exposing
Global Cloud Biases in the Community Atmosphere Model (CAM) Using Satellite
Observations and Their Corresponding Instrument Simulators, J. Climate, 25,
5190–5207, https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-11-00469.1, 2012.
Kay, J., Wall, C., Yettella, V., Medeiros, B., Hannay, C., Caldwell, P., and
Bitz, C.: Global Climate Impacts of Fixing the Southern Ocean Shortwave
Radiation Bias in the Community Earth System Model (CESM), J. Climate, 29,
4617–4636, 2016.
Kutzbach, J.: Empirical Eigenvectors of Sea Level Pressure, Surface
Temperature, and Precipitation Complexes over North America, J. Appl.
Meteor., 6, 791–802, 1967.
Li, Y. and Thompson, D.: Observed Signatures of the Barotropic and Baroclinic
Annular Modes in Cloud Vertical Structure and Cloud Radiative Effects, J.
Climate, 29, 4723–4740, 2016.
Li, Y., Thompson, D., Huang, Y., and Zhang, M.: Observed linkages between the
northern annular mode/North Atlantic Oscillation, cloud incidence, and cloud
radiative forcing, Geophys. Res. Lett., 41, 1681–1688,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2013GL059113, 2014a.
Li, Y., Thompson, D., Stephens, G., and Bony, S.: A Global Survey of the
Instantaneous Linkages Between Cloud Vertical Structure and Large Scale
Climate, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 119, 3770–3792, https://doi.org/10.1002/2013JD020669,
2014b.
Limbacher, J. A. and Kahn, R. A.: Updated MISR dark water research aerosol
retrieval algorithm – Part 1: Coupled 1.1 km ocean surface chlorophyll a
retrievals with empirical calibration corrections, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 10,
1539–1555, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-1539-2017, 2017.
Liu, Q., Wen, N., and Liu, Z.: An Observational Study of the Impact of the
North Pacific SST on the Atmosphere, Goephys. Res. Lett., 33, L18611,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2006GL026082, 2006.
Loeb, N. and NASA LARC: CERES SSF 1∘ Product Information, available
at:
https://ceres.larc.nasa.gov/products.php?product=SSF1deg, last access: 5 October 2015, updated 2019.
Lorenz, E.: Empirical Orthogonal Functions and Statistical Weather
Prediction, Sci. Rep. No. 1, Statistical Forecasting Project, Department of
Meteorology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1956.
Lyapustin, A., Wang, Y., Xiong, X., Meister, G., Platnick, S., Levy, R.,
Franz, B., Korkin, S., Hilker, T., Tucker, J., Hall, F., Sellers, P., Wu, A.,
and Angal, A.: Scientific impact of MODIS C5 calibration degradation and C6+
improvements, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 7, 4353–4365,
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-4353-2014, 2014.
Mantua, N., Hare, S., Zhang, Y., Wallace, J., and Francis, R.: A Pacific
Inter-decadal Climate Oscillation with Impacts on Salmon Production, B. Am.
Meteorol. Soc., 78, 1069–1079,
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0477(1997)078<1069:APICOW>2.0.CO;2, 1997.
Marchand, R.: Trends in ISCCP, MISR, and MODIS Cloud-Top-Height and
Optical-Depth Histograms, J. Geophys. Res., 118, 1941–1949,
https://doi.org/10.1002/jgrd.50207, 2013.
Marchand, R., Ackerman, T., Smyth, M., and Rossow, W.: A Review of Cloud Top
Height and Optical Depth Histograms from MISR, ISCCP, and MODIS, J. Geophys.
Res., 115, 693–718, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JD013422, 2010.
Minobe, S., Kuwano-Yoshida, A., Komori, N., Xie, S., and Small, R. J.:
Influence of the Gulf Stream on the Troposphere, Nature, 452, 206–209,
https://doi.org/10.1038/nature06690, 2008.
Minobe, S., Miyashita, M., Kuwano-Yoshida, A., Tokinaga, H., and Xie, S.:
Atmospheric Response to the Gulf Stream: Seasonal Variations, J. Climate, 23,
3699–3719, https://doi.org/10.1175/2010JCLI3359.1, 2010.
Newman, M., Alexander, M. A., Ault, T. R., Cobb, K. M., Deser, C., Di
Lorenzo, E., Mantua, N. J., Miller, A. J., Minobe, S., Nakamura, H.,
Schneider, N., Vimont, D. J., Phillips, A. S., Scott, J. D., and Smith, C.
A.: The Pacific Decadal Oscillation, Revisited, J. Climate, 29, 4399–4427,
https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-15-0508.1, 2016.
NOAA Climate Prediction Center (CPC): Teleconnections: AAO, AO, NAO, PNA,
available at:
https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/precip/CWlink/daily_ao_index/teleconnections.shtml
(last access: 29 December 2015), 2012.
Norris, J. and Evan, A.: Empirical removal of artifacts from the ISCCP and
PATMOS-x satellite cloud records, J. Atmos. Ocean. Tech., 32, 691–702, 2015.
Norris, J., Allen, R., Evan, A., Zelinka, M., O'Dell, C., and Klein, S.:
Evidence for Climate Change in the Satellite Cloud Record, Nature, 536,
72–75, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature18273, 2016.
Platnick, S., King, M., Meyer, K., Wind, G., Amarasinghe, N., Marchant, B.,
Arnold, G., Zhang, Z., Hubanks, P., Ridgway, W., and Riedi, J.: MODIS Cloud
Optical Properties: User Guide for the Collection 6 Level-2 OD06/MYD06
Product and Associated Level-3 Datasets, available at:
http://modis-atmos.gsfc.nasa.gov/_docs/90 C6MOD06OPUserGuide.pdfTS28,
lsat access: 12 October 2015.
Platnick, S., Meyer, K., King, M., Wind, G., Amarasinghe, N., Marchant, B.,
Arnold, G., Zhang, Z., Hubanks, P., Holz, R., Yang, P., Ridgway, W., and
Riedi, J.: The MODIS Cloud Optical and Microphysical Products: Collection 6
Updates and Examples from Terra and Aqua, IEEE T. Geosci. Remote, 55,
502–524, 2017.
Prohaska, J.: A Technique for analyzing the Linear Relationships Between Two
Meteorological Fields, Mon. Weather Rev., 104, 1345–1353, 1976.
Rossow, W. and Schiffer, R.: Advances in Understanding Clouds from ISCCP, B.
Amer. Meteorol. Soc., 80, 2261–2288,
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0477(1999)080<2261:AIUCFI>2.0.CO;2, 1999.
Schneider, N. and Cornuelle, B.: The Forcing of the Pacific Decadal
Oscillation, J. Climate, 18, 4355–4373, https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI3527.1, 2005.
Thompson, D. and Wallace, J.: Annular Modes in the Extratropical Circulation,
Part 1: Month-to-Month Variability, J. Climate, 13, 1000–1016,
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0442(2000)013<1000:AMITEC>2.0.CO;2, 2000.
Thompson, D., Solomon, S., Kushner, P., England, M., Grise, K., and Karoly,
D.: Signatures of the Antarctic ozone hole in Southern Hemisphere surface
climate change, Nature Geo., 4, 741–749, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo1296, 2011.
Trenberth, K. and Fasullo, J.: Simulation of present-day and
twenty-first-century energy budgets of the southern oceans, J. Climate, 23,
440–454, 2010.
Trenberth, K. and Hurrell, J.: Decadal Atmosphere-Ocean Variations in the
Pacific, Clim. Dynam., 9, 303–319, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00204745, 1994.
Trenberth, K. and Shea, D.: On the Evolution of the Southern Oscillation,
Mon. Weather Rev., 115, 3078–3096,
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0493(1987)115<3078:OTEOTS>2.0.CO;2, 1987.
Tselioudis, G., Zhang, Y., and Rossow, W.: Cloud and Radiation Variations
Associated with Northern Midlatitude Low and High Sea Level Pressure Regimes,
J. Climate, 13, 312–327,
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0442(2000)013<0312:CARVAW>2.0.CO;2, 2000.
Vincent, D.: The South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ): A Review, Mon.
Weather Rev., 122, 1949–1970,
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0493(1994)122<1949:TSPCZA>2.0.CO;2, 1994.
Von Storch, H. and Zwiers, F.: Statistical Analysis in Climate Research,
Cambridge University Press, 2001.
Wallace, J. and Gutzler, D.: Teleconnections in the geopotential height field
during the Northern Hemisphere winter, Mon. Weather Rev., 109, 784–812,
1981.
Wilks, D.: Statistical Methods in the Atmospheric Sciences, 2nd edn.,
170 pp., Elsevier, New York, ISBN: 0-12-751966-1, 2006.
Zheng, F., Li, J., Clark, R., and Namchi, H.: Simulation and projection of
the southern hemisphere annular mode in CMIP5 models, J. Climate, 26,
9860–9879, https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-13-00204.1, 2013.
Short summary
The 13-year trends in cloud occurrence, observed by NASA's Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer, over the world's extratropical ocean basins are compared to trends in meteorological variables. We identify several patterns of changing cloud occurrence that correspond to specific patterns in trending meteorology. We find that many of these trends are related to changes in major modes of climate variability.
The 13-year trends in cloud occurrence, observed by NASA's Multi-angle Imaging...
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint