Articles | Volume 23, issue 24
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-15413-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Special issue:
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-15413-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Opinion
| Highlight paper
| 
18 Dec 2023
Opinion | Highlight paper |
| 18 Dec 2023
| 18 Dec 2023
Opinion: Tropical cirrus – from micro-scale processes to climate-scale impacts
Blaž Gasparini
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Meteorology and Geophysics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Sylvia C. Sullivan
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
Adam B. Sokol
Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
Bernd Kärcher
Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre, DLR Oberpfaffenhofen, Wessling, Germany
Eric Jensen
NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, CO, USA
Dennis L. Hartmann
Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Total article views: 8,785 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
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Cited
22 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Cloud Feedback Uncertainty in the Equatorial Pacific Across CMIP6 Models P. Hill et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL117183
- Tropical cirrus evolution in a kilometer-scale model with improved ice microphysics B. Gasparini et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-9957-2025
- Evaluating Cloud Feedback Components in Observations and Their Representation in Climate Models L. Chao et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JD039427
- A systematic evaluation of high-cloud controlling factors S. Wilson Kemsley et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8295-2024
- High clouds and higher sensitivity A. Voigt https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-024-01438-w
- Facets of the tropical high-cloud feedback in a global storm-resolving model J. Deutloff et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-026-01463-z
- Factors determining tropical upper-level cloud radiative effect in the radiative-convective equilibrium framework H. Kang et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-62587-x
- Exploring sources of ice crystals in cirrus clouds: comparative analysis of two ice nucleation schemes in CAM6 K. Lyu et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-15369-2025
- How does the lifetime of detrained cirrus impact the high-cloud radiative effect in the tropics? G. Horner & E. Gryspeerdt https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5617-2025
- No decrease of tropical convection in individual deep convective systems with global warming M. Bolot et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-025-01285-5
- A Lagrangian perspective on the lifecycle and cloud radiative effect of deep convective clouds over Africa W. Jones et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5165-2024
- The airborne chicago water isotope spectrometer: an integrated cavity output spectrometer for measurements of the HDO ∕ H2O isotopic ratio in the Asian Summer Monsoon B. Clouser et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-6465-2025
- Microphysical fingerprints in anvil cloud albedo D. Finney et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-10907-2025
- Greater climate sensitivity implied by anvil cloud thinning A. Sokol et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-024-01420-6
- Day and Night Retrieval of Layered Cloud Cover from Geostationary Satellite Observations J. Lin et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18132107
- Constraining a Radiative Transfer Model with Satellite Retrievals: Contrasts between cirrus formed via homogeneous and heterogeneous freezing and their implications for cirrus cloud thinning E. Erfani & D. Mitchell https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-523-2026
- Convective controls on anvil cloud evolution in the ICON km-scale global climate model M. Ritman et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-7105-2026
- Ice crystal complexity leads to weaker ice cloud radiative heating in idealized single-column simulations E. Sepulveda Araya et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8943-2025
- Marine Cirrus Properties from Satellite Remote Sensing over the South China Sea: Spatiotemporal Variations and a Case Study H. Weng et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-025-4305-0
- Comparative Analysis of Orographic Cirrus Clouds over Major Mountainous Regions Using Satellite Observations X. Hu et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18111701
- Cleo: the numerical methods of a new superdroplet model including a droplet breakup algorithm (v0.52.0) C. Bayley et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-6121-2026
- Atmospheric cloud-radiative heating in CMIP6 and observations and its response to surface warming A. Voigt et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9749-2024
22 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Cloud Feedback Uncertainty in the Equatorial Pacific Across CMIP6 Models P. Hill et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL117183
- Tropical cirrus evolution in a kilometer-scale model with improved ice microphysics B. Gasparini et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-9957-2025
- Evaluating Cloud Feedback Components in Observations and Their Representation in Climate Models L. Chao et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JD039427
- A systematic evaluation of high-cloud controlling factors S. Wilson Kemsley et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8295-2024
- High clouds and higher sensitivity A. Voigt https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-024-01438-w
- Facets of the tropical high-cloud feedback in a global storm-resolving model J. Deutloff et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-026-01463-z
- Factors determining tropical upper-level cloud radiative effect in the radiative-convective equilibrium framework H. Kang et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-62587-x
- Exploring sources of ice crystals in cirrus clouds: comparative analysis of two ice nucleation schemes in CAM6 K. Lyu et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-15369-2025
- How does the lifetime of detrained cirrus impact the high-cloud radiative effect in the tropics? G. Horner & E. Gryspeerdt https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5617-2025
- No decrease of tropical convection in individual deep convective systems with global warming M. Bolot et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-025-01285-5
- A Lagrangian perspective on the lifecycle and cloud radiative effect of deep convective clouds over Africa W. Jones et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5165-2024
- The airborne chicago water isotope spectrometer: an integrated cavity output spectrometer for measurements of the HDO ∕ H2O isotopic ratio in the Asian Summer Monsoon B. Clouser et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-6465-2025
- Microphysical fingerprints in anvil cloud albedo D. Finney et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-10907-2025
- Greater climate sensitivity implied by anvil cloud thinning A. Sokol et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-024-01420-6
- Day and Night Retrieval of Layered Cloud Cover from Geostationary Satellite Observations J. Lin et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18132107
- Constraining a Radiative Transfer Model with Satellite Retrievals: Contrasts between cirrus formed via homogeneous and heterogeneous freezing and their implications for cirrus cloud thinning E. Erfani & D. Mitchell https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-523-2026
- Convective controls on anvil cloud evolution in the ICON km-scale global climate model M. Ritman et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-7105-2026
- Ice crystal complexity leads to weaker ice cloud radiative heating in idealized single-column simulations E. Sepulveda Araya et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8943-2025
- Marine Cirrus Properties from Satellite Remote Sensing over the South China Sea: Spatiotemporal Variations and a Case Study H. Weng et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-025-4305-0
- Comparative Analysis of Orographic Cirrus Clouds over Major Mountainous Regions Using Satellite Observations X. Hu et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18111701
- Cleo: the numerical methods of a new superdroplet model including a droplet breakup algorithm (v0.52.0) C. Bayley et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-6121-2026
- Atmospheric cloud-radiative heating in CMIP6 and observations and its response to surface warming A. Voigt et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9749-2024
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 01 Aug 2026
Editorial statement
This article offers a wide ranging review of current understanding of the role various tropical cirrus cloud types play in the redistribution of water within the atmosphere and how they affect the changing Earth's energy balance by reflecting sunlight and preventing the escape of thermal energy to outer space. Improved understanding of these dynamics has been identified as critical for predicting whether such clouds may amplify or slow future global climate change. A clear exposition is provided of the various methods used to study tropical cirrus cloud characteristics and processes, including remote sensing, in situ measurements, modeling and laboratory work. Key questions include identifying how small-scale microphysical processes affect larger cloud structure, and how cirrus altitude and extent responds to changing radiation and thermodynamic profiles. A call is made not only for improved representations of cloud processes at finer scales, but also for a more holistic approach using a hierarchy of model detail. Such efforts would enable new knowledge obtained from studying even the smallest scales to be more readily placed within a broader context applicable to climate studies.
This article offers a wide ranging review of current understanding of the role various tropical...
Short summary
Tropical cirrus clouds are essential for climate, but our understanding of these clouds is limited due to their dependence on a wide range of small- and large-scale climate processes. In this opinion paper, we review recent advances in the study of tropical cirrus clouds, point out remaining open questions, and suggest ways to resolve them.
Tropical cirrus clouds are essential for climate, but our understanding of these clouds is...
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