The evolution of deep convective systems  and their associated cirrus outflows

Horner, George; Gryspeerdt, Edward

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-14239-2023

Articles | Volume 23, issue 22

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-14239-2023

© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-14239-2023

© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 23, issue 22

Research article

|

16 Nov 2023

Research article |

| 16 Nov 2023

The evolution of deep convective systems and their associated cirrus outflows

George Horner and Edward Gryspeerdt

Supplement

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-14239-2023-supplement

Data sets

International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Climate Data Record, H-Series W. Rossow, V. Golea, A. Walker, K. Knapp, A. Young, B. Hankins, and A. Inamdar https://doi.org/10.7289/V5QZ281S

ERA5 hourly data on pressure levels from 1959 to present H. Hersbach, B. Bell, P. Berrisford, G. Biavati, A. Horányi, J. Muñoz Sabater, J. Nicolas, C. Peubey, R. Radu, I. Rozum, D. Schepers, A. Simmons, C. Soci, D. Dee, and J.-N. Thépaut https://doi.org/10.24381/cds.bd0915c6

CERES and GEO-Enhanced TOA, Within-Atmosphere and Surface Fluxes, Clouds and Aerosols 1-Hourly Terra-Aqua Edition4A NASA/LARC/SD/ASDC https://doi.org/10.5067/TERRA+AQUA/CERES/SYN1DEG-1HOUR_L3.004A

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Short summary

Tropical deep convective clouds, and the thin cirrus (ice) clouds that flow out from them, are important for modulating the energy budget of the tropical atmosphere. This work uses a new method to track the evolution of the properties of these clouds across their entire lifetimes. We find these clouds cool the atmosphere in the first 6 h before switching to a warming regime after the deep convective core has dissipated, which is sustained beyond 120 h from the initial convective event.