Articles | Volume 24, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5713-2024
© Author(s) 2024. 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-24-5713-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Interactions between trade wind clouds and local forcings over the Great Barrier Reef: a case study using convection-permitting simulations
School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Science, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Science, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Climate Extreme (CLEX), Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Steven Siems
Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Climate Extreme (CLEX), Melbourne, VIC, Australia
School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Michael Manton
School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Daniel Harrison
National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia
Related authors
No articles found.
Robert G. Ryan, Lilani Toms-Hardman, Alexander Smirnov, Daniel Harrison, and Robyn Schofield
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1111, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1111, 2024
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP).
Short summary
Short summary
Measurements of aerosol vertical distribution are key for understanding how they interact with clouds and sunlight. Such measurements are currently lacking at the Great Barrier Reef, limiting our ability to validate climate models in this sensitive, ecologically rich environment. Here we use a range of techniques to quantify the vertical variation of aerosols above the Great Barrier Reef for the first time, using the comparison of techniques to also infer aerosol spatial variation.
Francisco Lang, Steven T. Siems, Yi Huang, Tahereh Alinejadtabrizi, and Luis Ackermann
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 1451–1466, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-1451-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-1451-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Marine low-level clouds play a crucial role in the Earth's energy balance, trapping heat from the surface and reflecting sunlight back into space. These clouds are distinguishable by their large-scale spatial structures, primarily characterized as hexagonal patterns with either filled (closed) or empty (open) cells. Utilizing satellite observations, these two cloud type patterns have been categorized over the Southern Ocean and North Pacific Ocean through a pattern recognition program.
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.
Andrew T. Prata, Stuart A. Young, Steven T. Siems, and Michael J. Manton
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 8599–8618, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-8599-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-8599-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
We have studied the optical properties of ash-rich and sulfate-rich volcanic aerosols by analysing satellite observations of three different volcanic eruptions. Our results indicate that ash particles have distinctive optical properties when compared to sulfates. We expect our results will improve space-borne lidar detection of volcanic aerosols and provide new insight into their interaction with the atmosphere and solar radiation.
Related subject area
Subject: Clouds and Precipitation | Research Activity: Atmospheric Modelling and Data Analysis | Altitude Range: Troposphere | Science Focus: Physics (physical properties and processes)
Present-day correlations are insufficient to predict cloud albedo change by anthropogenic aerosols in E3SM v2
Simulations of primary and secondary ice production during an Arctic mixed-phase cloud case from the Ny-Ålesund Aerosol Cloud Experiment (NASCENT) campaign
Microphysical characteristics of precipitation within convective overshooting over East China observed by GPM DPR and ERA5
Effects of radiative cooling on advection fog over the northwest Pacific Ocean: observations and large-eddy simulations
Evaluating the Wegener–Bergeron–Findeisen process in ICON in large-eddy mode with in situ observations from the CLOUDLAB project
Aerosol-induced closure of marine cloud cells: enhanced effects in the presence of precipitation
Impact of ice multiplication on the cloud electrification of a cold-season thunderstorm: a numerical case study
Developing a climatological simplification of aerosols to enter the cloud microphysics of a global climate model
Variability in the properties of the distribution of the relative humidity with respect to ice: implications for contrail formation
Simulating the seeder–feeder impacts on cloud ice and precipitation over the Alps
Cloud response to co-condensation of water and organic vapors over the boreal forest
Distribution and morphology of non-persistent contrail and persistent contrail formation areas in ERA5
Above-cloud concentrations of cloud condensation nuclei help to sustain some Arctic low-level clouds
Revisiting the evolution of downhill thunderstorms over Beijing: A new perspective from radar wind profiler mesonet
How well can persistent contrails be predicted? – An update
Contrail formation on ambient aerosol particles for aircraft with hydrogen combustion: a box model trajectory study
Effects of intermittent aerosol forcing on the stratocumulus-to-cumulus transition
Finite domains cause bias in measured and modeled distributions of cloud sizes
Cloud properties and their projected changes in CMIP models with low to high climate sensitivity
A systematic evaluation of high-cloud controlling factors
Water isotopic characterisation of the cloud–circulation coupling in the North Atlantic trades – Part 2: The imprint of the atmospheric circulation at different scales
Impact of urban land use on mean and heavy rainfall during the Indian summer monsoon
Tracking precipitation features and associated large-scale environments over southeastern Texas
Understanding Aerosol-Cloud Interactions in a Single-Column Model: Intercomparison with Process-Level Models and Evaluation against ACTIVATE Field Measurements
Towards a more reliable forecast of ice supersaturation: concept of a one-moment ice-cloud scheme that avoids saturation adjustment
Opinion: Tropical cirrus – from micro-scale processes to climate-scale impacts
Exploring aerosol-cloud interactions in liquid-phase clouds over eastern China and its adjacent ocean using the WRF-Chem-SBM model
Water isotopic characterisation of the cloud–circulation coupling in the North Atlantic trades – Part 1: A process-oriented evaluation of COSMOiso simulations with EUREC4A observations
Assimilation of 3D polarimetric microphysical retrievals in a convective-scale NWP system
Sensitivity of cloud-phase distribution to cloud microphysics and thermodynamics in simulated deep convective clouds and SEVIRI retrievals
Assessing the destructiveness of tropical cyclones induced by anthropogenic aerosols in an atmosphere–ocean coupled framework
Opinion: A critical evaluation of the evidence for aerosol invigoration of deep convection
Historical (1960–2014) lightning and LNOx trends and their controlling factors in a chemistry–climate model
The chance of freezing – a conceptional study to parameterize temperature-dependent freezing by including randomness of ice-nucleating particle concentrations
Evaluation of hygroscopic cloud seeding in warm-rain processes by a hybrid microphysics scheme using a Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model: a real case study
Radiation fog properties in two consecutive events under polluted and clean conditions in the Yangtze River Delta, China: a simulation study
A bin microphysics parcel model investigation of secondary ice formation in an idealised shallow convective cloud
Influence of atmospheric rivers and associated weather systems on precipitation in the Arctic
Insights of warm-cloud biases in Community Atmospheric Model 5 and 6 from the single-column modeling framework and Aerosol and Cloud Experiments in the Eastern North Atlantic (ACE-ENA) observations
Interaction of microphysics and dynamics in a warm conveyor belt simulated with the ICOsahedral Nonhydrostatic (ICON) model
Does prognostic seeding along flight tracks produce the desired effects of cirrus cloud thinning?
Large-eddy simulation of a two-layer boundary-layer cloud system from the Arctic Ocean 2018 expedition
Opposing trends of cloud coverage over land and ocean under global warming
Aerosol–cloud–radiation interaction during Saharan dust episodes: the dusty cirrus puzzle
Aerosol–cloud impacts on aerosol detrainment and rainout in shallow maritime tropical clouds
Mixed-phase direct numerical simulation: ice growth in cloud-top generating cells
Aerosol impacts on the entrainment efficiency of Arctic mixed-phase convection in a simulated air mass over open water
Evaluating Arctic clouds modelled with the Unified Model and Integrated Forecasting System
Evaluation of aerosol–cloud interactions in E3SM using a Lagrangian framework
Impact of formulations of the homogeneous nucleation rate on ice nucleation events in cirrus
Naser Mahfouz, Johannes Mülmenstädt, and Susannah Burrows
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 7253–7260, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-7253-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-7253-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Climate models are our primary tool to probe past, present, and future climate states unlike the more recent observation record. By constructing a hypothetical model configuration, we show that present-day correlations are insufficient to predict a persistent uncertainty in climate projection (how much sun because clouds will reflect in a changing climate). We hope our result will contribute to the scholarly conversation on better utilizing observations to constrain climate uncertainties.
Britta Schäfer, Robert Oscar David, Paraskevi Georgakaki, Julie Thérèse Pasquier, Georgia Sotiropoulou, and Trude Storelvmo
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 7179–7202, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-7179-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-7179-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Mixed-phase clouds, i.e., clouds consisting of ice and supercooled water, are very common in the Arctic. However, how these clouds form is often not correctly represented in standard weather models. We show that both ice crystal concentrations in the cloud and precipitation from the cloud can be improved in the model when aerosol concentrations are prescribed from observations and when more processes for ice multiplication, i.e., the production of new ice particles from existing ice, are added.
Nan Sun, Gaopeng Lu, and Yunfei Fu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 7123–7135, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-7123-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-7123-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Microphysical characteristics of convective overshooting are essential but poorly understood, and we examine them by using the latest data. (1) Convective overshooting events mainly occur over NC (Northeast China) and northern MEC (Middle and East China). (2) Radar reflectivity of convective overshooting over NC accounts for a higher proportion below the zero level, while the opposite is the case for MEC and SC (South China). (3) Droplets of convective overshooting are large but sparse.
Liu Yang, Saisai Ding, Jing-Wu Liu, and Su-Ping Zhang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 6809–6824, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-6809-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-6809-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Advection fog occurs when warm and moist air moves over a cold sea surface. In this situation, the temperature of the foggy air usually drops below the sea surface temperature (SST), particularly at night. High-resolution simulations show that the cooling effect of longwave radiation from the top of the fog layer permeates through the fog, resulting in a cooling of the surface air below SST. This study emphasizes the significance of monitoring air temperature to enhance sea fog forecasting.
Nadja Omanovic, Sylvaine Ferrachat, Christopher Fuchs, Jan Henneberger, Anna J. Miller, Kevin Ohneiser, Fabiola Ramelli, Patric Seifert, Robert Spirig, Huiying Zhang, and Ulrike Lohmann
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 6825–6844, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-6825-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-6825-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We present simulations with a high-resolution numerical weather prediction model to study the growth of ice crystals in low clouds following glaciogenic seeding. We show that the simulated ice crystals grow slower than observed and do not consume as many cloud droplets as measured in the field. This may have implications for forecasting precipitation, as the ice phase is crucial for precipitation at middle and high latitudes.
Matthew W. Christensen, Peng Wu, Adam C. Varble, Heng Xiao, and Jerome D. Fast
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 6455–6476, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-6455-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-6455-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Clouds are essential to keep Earth cooler by reflecting sunlight back to space. We show that an increase in aerosol concentration suppresses precipitation in clouds, causing them to accumulate water and expand in a polluted environment with stronger turbulence and radiative cooling. This process enhances their reflectance by 51 %. It is therefore prudent to account for cloud fraction changes in assessments of aerosol–cloud interactions to improve predictions of climate change.
Jing Yang, Shiye Huang, Tianqi Yang, Qilin Zhang, Yuting Deng, and Yubao Liu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 5989–6010, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5989-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5989-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This study contributes to filling the dearth of understanding the impacts of different secondary ice production (SIP) processes on the cloud electrification in cold-season thunderstorms. The results suggest that SIP, especially the rime-splintering process and the shattering of freezing drops, has significant impacts on the charge structure of the storm. In addition, the modeled radar composite reflectivity and flash rate are improved after implementing the SIP processes in the model.
Ulrike Proske, Sylvaine Ferrachat, and Ulrike Lohmann
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 5907–5933, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5907-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5907-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Climate models include treatment of aerosol particles because these influence clouds and radiation. Over time their representation has grown increasingly detailed. This complexity may hinder our understanding of model behaviour. Thus here we simplify the aerosol representation of our climate model by prescribing mean concentrations, which saves run time and helps to discover unexpected model behaviour. We conclude that simplifications provide a new perspective for model study and development.
Sidiki Sanogo, Olivier Boucher, Nicolas Bellouin, Audran Borella, Kevin Wolf, and Susanne Rohs
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 5495–5511, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5495-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5495-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Relative humidity relative to ice (RHi) is a key variable in the formation of cirrus clouds and contrails. This study shows that the properties of the probability density function of RHi differ between the tropics and higher latitudes. In line with RHi and temperature variability, aircraft are likely to produce more contrails with bioethanol and liquid hydrogen as fuel. The impact of this fuel change decreases with decreasing pressure levels but increases from high latitudes to the tropics.
Zane Dedekind, Ulrike Proske, Sylvaine Ferrachat, Ulrike Lohmann, and David Neubauer
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 5389–5404, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5389-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5389-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Ice particles precipitating into lower clouds from an upper cloud, the seeder–feeder process, can enhance precipitation. A numerical modeling study conducted in the Swiss Alps found that 48 % of observed clouds were overlapping, with the seeder–feeder process occurring in 10 % of these clouds. Inhibiting the seeder–feeder process reduced the surface precipitation and ice particle growth rates, which were further reduced when additional ice multiplication processes were included in the model.
Liine Heikkinen, Daniel G. Partridge, Sara Blichner, Wei Huang, Rahul Ranjan, Paul Bowen, Emanuele Tovazzi, Tuukka Petäjä, Claudia Mohr, and Ilona Riipinen
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 5117–5147, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5117-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5117-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The organic vapor condensation with water vapor (co-condensation) in rising air below clouds is modeled in this work over the boreal forest because the forest air is rich in organic vapors. We show that the number of cloud droplets can increase by 20 % if considering co-condensation. The enhancements are even larger if the air contains many small, naturally produced aerosol particles. Such conditions are most frequently met in spring in the boreal forest.
Kevin Wolf, Nicolas Bellouin, and Olivier Boucher
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 5009–5024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5009-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5009-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The contrail formation potential and its tempo-spatial distribution are estimated for the North Atlantic flight corridor. Meteorological conditions of temperature and relative humidity are taken from the ERA5 re-analysis and IAGOS. Based on IAGOS flight tracks, crossing length, size, orientation, frequency of occurrence, and overlap of persistent contrail formation areas are determined. The presented conclusions might provide a guide for statistical flight track optimization to reduce contrails.
Lucas J. Sterzinger and Adele L. Igel
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 3529–3540, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-3529-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-3529-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Using idealized large eddy simulations, we find that clouds forming in the Arctic in environments with low concentrations of aerosol particles may be sustained by mixing in new particles through the cloud top. Observations show that higher concentrations of these particles regularly exist above cloud top in concentrations that are sufficient to promote this sustenance.
Xiaoran Guo, Jianping Guo, Tianmeng Chen, Ning Li, Fan Zhang, and Yuping Sun
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-707, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-707, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The prediction of downhill thunderstorm (DS) remains elusive due to the lack of profiling observations. Here we propose a novel objective method to identify the DS event and its evolutions, based on which enhance and dissipated DS are discriminated. The radar wind profiler (RWP) mesonet in Beijing is used to derive areal divergence and vertical velocity, which are used to explore the DS ambient environment. These dynamic variables from RWP help explain the spatio-temporal evolution of DS.
Sina Maria Hofer, Klaus Martin Gierens, and Susanne Rohs
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-385, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-385, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We try to improve the forecast of ice supersaturation and potential persistent contrails by using data of dynamical quantities in addition to temperature and relative humidity in a modern kind of regression models. Although the results are improved, they are not good enough for flight routing. The origin of the problem is the strong overlap of probability densities conditioned on cases with and without ISSR in the important range of 70–100 %.
Andreas Bier, Simon Unterstrasser, Josef Zink, Dennis Hillenbrand, Tina Jurkat-Witschas, and Annemarie Lottermoser
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 2319–2344, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-2319-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-2319-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Using hydrogen as aviation fuel affects contrails' climate impact. We study contrail formation behind aircraft with H2 combustion. Due to the absence of soot emissions, contrail ice crystals are assumed to form only on ambient particles mixed into the plume. The ice crystal number, which strongly varies with temperature and aerosol number density, is decreased by more than 80 %–90 % compared to kerosene contrails. However H2 contrails can form at lower altitudes due to higher H2O emissions.
Prasanth Prabhakaran, Fabian Hoffmann, and Graham Feingold
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 1919–1937, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-1919-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-1919-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, we explore the impact of deliberate aerosol perturbation in the northeast Pacific region using large-eddy simulations. Our results show that cloud reflectivity is sensitive to the aerosol sprayer arrangement in the pristine system, whereas in the polluted system it is largely proportional to the total number of aerosol particles injected. These insights would aid in assessing the efficiency of various aerosol injection strategies for climate intervention applications.
Thomas D. DeWitt and Timothy J. Garrett
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-67, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-67, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
There is considerable disagreement on mathematical parameters that describe the numbers of clouds of different sizes, as well as the size of the largest clouds. Both are key defining characteristics of the Earth's atmosphere. A previous study provided an incorrect explanation for the disagreement. Instead, the disagreements may be explained by prior studies not properly accounting for the size of their measurement domain. We offer recommendations for how the domain size can be accounted for.
Lisa Bock and Axel Lauer
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 1587–1605, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-1587-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-1587-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Climate model simulations still show a large range of effective climate sensitivity (ECS) with high uncertainties. An important contribution to ECS is cloud climate feedback. We investigate the representation of cloud physical and radiative properties from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project models grouped by ECS. We compare the simulated cloud properties of today’s climate from three ECS groups and quantify how the projected changes in cloud properties and cloud radiative effects differ.
Sarah Wilson Kemsley, Paulo Ceppi, Hendrik Andersen, Jan Cermak, Philip Stier, and Peer Nowack
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-226, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-226, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Aiming to inform parameter selection for future observational constraint analyses, we incorporate five candidate meteorological drivers specifically targeting high clouds, into a cloud controlling factor framework within a range of spatial domain sizes. We find a discrepancy between optimal domain size for predicting local and globally-aggregated cloud radiative anomalies, and identify upper tropospheric static stability as an important high-cloud controlling factor.
Leonie Villiger and Franziska Aemisegger
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 957–976, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-957-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-957-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Three numerical simulations performed with an isotope-enabled weather forecast model are used to investigate the cloud–circulation coupling between shallow trade-wind cumulus clouds and atmospheric circulations on different scales. It is shown that stable water isotopes near cloud base in the tropics reflect (1) the diel cycle of the atmospheric circulation, which drives the formation and dissipation of clouds, and (2) changes in the large-scale circulation over the North Atlantic.
Renaud Falga and Chien Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 631–647, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-631-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-631-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The impact of urban land use on regional meteorology and rainfall during the Indian summer monsoon has been assessed in this study. Using a cloud-resolving model centered around Kolkata, we have shown that the urban heat island effect led to a rainfall enhancement via the amplification of convective activity, especially during the night. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that the kinetic effect of the city induced the initiation of a nighttime storm.
Ye Liu, Yun Qian, Larry K. Berg, Zhe Feng, Jianfeng Li, Jingyi Chen, and Zhao Yang
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-112, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-112, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Various weather conditions influence different intense rains in southeastern Texas. MCSs contribute to both average and extreme rainfall year-round, while IDC play a role in heavy rain during summer and fall. In spring, fall, and winter, frontal weather triggers convection, while in summer, IDC is linked to both fronts and high-pressure systems, and MCSs are more associated with fronts. Front-associated convection starts around 1100 UTC, while high-pressure-related convection starts a bit later.
Shuaiqi Tang, Hailong Wang, Xiang-Yu Li, Jingyi Chen, Armin Sorooshian, Xubin Zeng, Ewan Crosbie, Kenneth L. Thornhill, Luke D. Ziemba, and Christiane Voigt
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-3149, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-3149, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We examined marine boundary-layer clouds and their interactions with aerosols in the E3SM single-column model (SCM) for a case study. The SCM shows good agreement in simulating the clouds with high-resolution models. It reproduces the relationship between cloud droplet and aerosol particle number concentrations as produced in global models. However, the relationship between cloud liquid water and droplet number concentration are different, which warrants further investigation.
Dario Sperber and Klaus Gierens
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 15609–15627, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-15609-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-15609-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
A significant share of aviation's climate impact is due to persistent contrails. Avoiding their creation is a step toward sustainable air transportation. For this purpose, a reliable forecast of so-called ice-supersaturated regions is needed, which then allows one to plan aircraft routes without persistent contrails. Here, we propose a method that leads to the better prediction of ice-supersaturated regions.
Blaž Gasparini, Sylvia C. Sullivan, Adam B. Sokol, Bernd Kärcher, Eric Jensen, and Dennis L. Hartmann
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 15413–15444, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-15413-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-15413-2023, 2023
Short summary
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.
Jianqi Zhao, Xiaoyan Ma, Johannes Quaas, and Hailing Jia
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2858, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2858, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We explore aerosol-cloud interactions in liquid-phase clouds over eastern China and its adjacent ocean in winter based on WRF-Chem-SBM model which couples a spectral-bin cloud microphysics and online aerosol module. Our study highlights the differences in aerosol-cloud interactions between land and ocean, precipitation clouds and non-precipitation clouds, and differentiates and quantifies their underlying mechanisms.
Leonie Villiger, Marina Dütsch, Sandrine Bony, Marie Lothon, Stephan Pfahl, Heini Wernli, Pierre-Etienne Brilouet, Patrick Chazette, Pierre Coutris, Julien Delanoë, Cyrille Flamant, Alfons Schwarzenboeck, Martin Werner, and Franziska Aemisegger
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 14643–14672, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-14643-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-14643-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This study evaluates three numerical simulations performed with an isotope-enabled weather forecast model and investigates the coupling between shallow trade-wind cumulus clouds and atmospheric circulations on different scales. We show that the simulations reproduce key characteristics of shallow trade-wind clouds as observed during the field experiment EUREC4A and that the spatial distribution of stable-water-vapour isotopes is shaped by the overturning circulation associated with these clouds.
Lucas Reimann, Clemens Simmer, and Silke Trömel
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 14219–14237, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-14219-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-14219-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Polarimetric radar observations were assimilated for the first time in a convective-scale numerical weather prediction system in Germany and their impact on short-term precipitation forecasts was evaluated. The assimilation was performed using microphysical retrievals of liquid and ice water content and yielded slightly improved deterministic 9 h precipitation forecasts for three intense summer precipitation cases with respect to the assimilation of radar reflectivity alone.
Cunbo Han, Corinna Hoose, Martin Stengel, Quentin Coopman, and Andrew Barrett
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 14077–14095, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-14077-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-14077-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Cloud phase has been found to significantly impact cloud thermodynamics and Earth’s radiation budget, and various factors influence it. This study investigates the sensitivity of the cloud-phase distribution to the ice-nucleating particle concentration and thermodynamics. Multiple simulation experiments were performed using the ICON model at the convection-permitting resolution of 1.2 km. Simulation results were compared to two different retrieval products based on SEVIRI measurements.
Yun Lin, Yuan Wang, Jen-Shan Hsieh, Jonathan H. Jiang, Qiong Su, Lijun Zhao, Michael Lavallee, and Renyi Zhang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 13835–13852, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-13835-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-13835-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Tropical cyclones (TCs) can cause catastrophic damage to coastal regions. We used a numerical model that explicitly simulates aerosol–cloud interaction and atmosphere–ocean coupling. We show that aerosols and ocean coupling work together to make TC storms bigger but weaker. Moreover, TCs in polluted air have more rainfall and higher sea levels, leading to more severe storm surges and flooding. Our research highlights the roles of aerosols and ocean-coupling feedbacks in TC hazard assessment.
Adam C. Varble, Adele L. Igel, Hugh Morrison, Wojciech W. Grabowski, and Zachary J. Lebo
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 13791–13808, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-13791-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-13791-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
As atmospheric particles called aerosols increase in number, the number of droplets in clouds tends to increase, which has been theorized to increase storm intensity. We critically evaluate the evidence for this theory, showing that flaws and limitations of previous studies coupled with unaddressed cloud process complexities draw it into question. We provide recommendations for future observations and modeling to overcome current uncertainties.
Yanfeng He and Kengo Sudo
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 13061–13085, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-13061-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-13061-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Lightning has big social impacts. Lightning-produced NOx (LNOx) plays a vital role in atmospheric chemistry and climate. Investigating past lightning and LNOx trends can provide essential indicators of all lightning-related phenomena. Simulations show almost flat global lightning and LNOx trends during 1960–2014. Past global warming enhances the trends positively, but increases in aerosol have the opposite effect. Moreover, global lightning decreased markedly after the Pinatubo eruption.
Hannah C. Frostenberg, André Welti, Mikael Luhr, Julien Savre, Erik S. Thomson, and Luisa Ickes
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 10883–10900, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10883-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10883-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Observations show that ice-nucleating particle concentrations (INPCs) have a large variety and follow lognormal distributions for a given temperature. We introduce a new immersion freezing parameterization that applies this lognormal behavior. INPCs are drawn randomly from a temperature-dependent lognormal distribution. We then show that the ice content of the modeled Arctic stratocumulus cloud is highly sensitive to the probability of drawing large INPCs.
Kai-I Lin, Kao-Shen Chung, Sheng-Hsiang Wang, Li-Hsin Chen, Yu-Chieng Liou, Pay-Liam Lin, Wei-Yu Chang, Hsien-Jung Chiu, and Yi-Hui Chang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 10423–10438, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10423-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10423-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This study develops a hybrid microphysics scheme to enable the complex model simulation of cloud seeding based on observational cloud condensation nuclei size distribution. Our results show that more precipitation can be developed in the scenarios seeding in the in-cloud region, and seeding over an area of tens km2 is the most efficient strategy due to the strengthening of the accretion process. Moreover, particles bigger than 0.4 μm are the main factor contributing to cloud-seeding effects.
Naifu Shao, Chunsong Lu, Xingcan Jia, Yuan Wang, Yubin Li, Yan Yin, Bin Zhu, Tianliang Zhao, Duanyang Liu, Shengjie Niu, Shuxian Fan, Shuqi Yan, and Jingjing Lv
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 9873–9890, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-9873-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-9873-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Fog is an important meteorological phenomenon that affects visibility. Aerosols and the planetary boundary layer (PBL) play critical roles in the fog life cycle. In this study, aerosol-induced changes in fog properties become more remarkable in the second fog (Fog2) than in the first fog (Fog1). The reason is that aerosol–cloud interaction (ACI) delays Fog1 dissipation, leading to the PBL meteorological conditions being more conducive to Fog2 formation and to stronger ACI in Fog2.
Rachel L. James, Jonathan Crosier, and Paul J. Connolly
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 9099–9121, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-9099-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-9099-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Secondary ice production (SIP) may significantly enhance the ice particle concentration in mixed-phase clouds. We present a systematic modelling study of secondary ice formation in idealised shallow convective clouds for various conditions. Our results suggest that the SIP mechanism of collisions of supercooled water drops with more massive ice particles may be a significant ice formation mechanism in shallow convective clouds outside the rime-splintering temperature range (−3 to −8 °C).
Melanie Lauer, Annette Rinke, Irina Gorodetskaya, Michael Sprenger, Mario Mech, and Susanne Crewell
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 8705–8726, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-8705-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-8705-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We present a new method to analyse the influence of atmospheric rivers (ARs), cyclones, and fronts on the precipitation in the Arctic, based on two campaigns: ACLOUD (early summer 2017) and AFLUX (early spring 2019). There are differences between both campaign periods: in early summer, the precipitation is mostly related to ARs and fronts, especially when they are co-located, while in early spring, cyclones isolated from ARs and fronts contributed most to the precipitation.
Yuan Wang, Xiaojian Zheng, Xiquan Dong, Baike Xi, and Yuk L. Yung
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 8591–8605, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-8591-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-8591-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Marine boundary layer clouds remain poorly predicted in global climate models due to multiple entangled uncertainty sources. This study uses the in situ observations from a recent field campaign to constrain and evaluate cloud physics in a simplified version of a climate model. Progress and remaining issues in the cloud physics parameterizations are identified. We systematically evaluate the impacts of large-scale forcing, microphysical scheme, and aerosol concentrations on the cloud property.
Annika Oertel, Annette K. Miltenberger, Christian M. Grams, and Corinna Hoose
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 8553–8581, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-8553-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-8553-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Warm conveyor belts (WCBs) are cloud- and precipitation-producing airstreams in extratropical cyclones that are important for the large-scale flow and cloud radiative forcing. We analyze cloud formation processes during WCB ascent in a two-moment microphysics scheme. Quantification of individual diabatic heating rates shows the importance of condensation, vapor deposition, rain evaporation, melting, and cloud-top radiative cooling for total heating and WCB-related potential vorticity structure.
Colin Tully, David Neubauer, Diego Villanueva, and Ulrike Lohmann
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 7673–7698, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-7673-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-7673-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This study details the first attempt with a GCM to simulate a fully prognostic aerosol species specifically for cirrus climate intervention. The new approach is in line with the real-world delivery mechanism via aircraft. However, to achieve an appreciable signal from seeding, smaller particles were needed, and their mass emissions needed to be scaled by at least a factor of 100. These biases contributed to either overseeding or small and insignificant effects in response to seeding cirrus.
Ines Bulatovic, Julien Savre, Michael Tjernström, Caroline Leck, and Annica M. L. Ekman
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 7033–7055, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-7033-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-7033-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We use numerical modeling with detailed cloud microphysics to investigate a low-altitude cloud system consisting of two cloud layers – a type of cloud situation which was commonly observed during the summer of 2018 in the central Arctic (north of 80° N). The model generally reproduces the observed cloud layers and the thermodynamic structure of the lower atmosphere well. The cloud system is maintained unless there are low aerosol number concentrations or high large-scale wind speeds.
Huan Liu, Ilan Koren, Orit Altaratz, and Mickaël D. Chekroun
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 6559–6569, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-6559-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-6559-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Clouds' responses to global warming contribute the largest uncertainty in climate prediction. Here, we analyze 42 years of global cloud cover in reanalysis data and show a decreasing trend over most continents and an increasing trend over the tropical and subtropical oceans. A reduction in near-surface relative humidity can explain the decreasing trend in cloud cover over land. Our results suggest potential stress on the terrestrial water cycle, associated with global warming.
Axel Seifert, Vanessa Bachmann, Florian Filipitsch, Jochen Förstner, Christian M. Grams, Gholam Ali Hoshyaripour, Julian Quinting, Anika Rohde, Heike Vogel, Annette Wagner, and Bernhard Vogel
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 6409–6430, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-6409-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-6409-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We investigate how mineral dust can lead to the formation of cirrus clouds. Dusty cirrus clouds lead to a reduction in solar radiation at the surface and, hence, a reduced photovoltaic power generation. Current weather prediction systems are not able to predict this interaction between mineral dust and cirrus clouds. We have developed a new physical description of the formation of dusty cirrus clouds. Overall we can show a considerable improvement in the forecast quality of clouds and radiation.
Gabrielle R. Leung, Stephen M. Saleeby, G. Alexander Sokolowsky, Sean W. Freeman, and Susan C. van den Heever
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 5263–5278, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-5263-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-5263-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This study uses a suite of high-resolution simulations to explore how the concentration and type of aerosol particles impact shallow tropical clouds and the overall aerosol budget. Under more-polluted conditions, there are more aerosol particles present, but we also find that clouds are less able to remove those aerosol particles via rainout. Instead, those aerosol particles are more likely to be detrained aloft and remain in the atmosphere for further aerosol–cloud interactions.
Sisi Chen, Lulin Xue, Sarah Tessendorf, Kyoko Ikeda, Courtney Weeks, Roy Rasmussen, Melvin Kunkel, Derek Blestrud, Shaun Parkinson, Melinda Meadows, and Nick Dawson
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 5217–5231, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-5217-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-5217-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The possible mechanism of effective ice growth in the cloud-top generating cells in winter orographic clouds is explored using a newly developed ultra-high-resolution cloud microphysics model. Simulations demonstrate that a high availability of moisture and liquid water is critical for producing large ice particles. Fluctuations in temperature and moisture down to millimeter scales due to cloud turbulence can substantially affect the growth history of the individual cloud particles.
Jan Chylik, Dmitry Chechin, Regis Dupuy, Birte S. Kulla, Christof Lüpkes, Stephan Mertes, Mario Mech, and Roel A. J. Neggers
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 4903–4929, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-4903-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-4903-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Arctic low-level clouds play an important role in the ongoing warming of the Arctic. Unfortunately, these clouds are not properly represented in weather forecast and climate models. This study tries to cover this gap by focusing on clouds over open water during the spring, observed by research aircraft near Svalbard. The study combines the high-resolution model with sets of observational data. The results show the importance of processes that involve both ice and the liquid water in the clouds.
Gillian Young McCusker, Jutta Vüllers, Peggy Achtert, Paul Field, Jonathan J. Day, Richard Forbes, Ruth Price, Ewan O'Connor, Michael Tjernström, John Prytherch, Ryan Neely III, and Ian M. Brooks
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 4819–4847, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-4819-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-4819-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, we show that recent versions of two atmospheric models – the Unified Model and Integrated Forecasting System – overestimate Arctic cloud fraction within the lower troposphere by comparison with recent remote-sensing measurements made during the Arctic Ocean 2018 expedition. The overabundance of cloud is interlinked with the modelled thermodynamic structure, with strong negative temperature biases coincident with these overestimated cloud layers.
Matthew W. Christensen, Po-Lun Ma, Peng Wu, Adam C. Varble, Johannes Mülmenstädt, and Jerome D. Fast
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 2789–2812, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2789-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2789-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
An increase in aerosol concentration (tiny airborne particles) is shown to suppress rainfall and increase the abundance of droplets in clouds passing over Graciosa Island in the Azores. Cloud drops remain affected by aerosol for several days across thousands of kilometers in satellite data. Simulations from an Earth system model show good agreement, but differences in the amount of cloud water and its extent remain despite modifications to model parameters that control the warm-rain process.
Peter Spichtinger, Patrik Marschalik, and Manuel Baumgartner
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 2035–2060, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2035-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2035-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We investigate the impact of the homogeneous nucleation rate on nucleation events in cirrus. As long as the slope of the rate is represented sufficiently well, the resulting ice crystal number concentrations are not crucially affected. Even a change in the prefactor over orders of magnitude does not change the results. However, the maximum supersaturation during nucleation events shows strong changes. This quantity should be used for diagnostics instead of the popular nucleation threshold.
Cited articles
Albrecht, B. A.: A model study of downstream variations of the thermodynamic structure of the trade winds, Tellus A, 36, 187–202, 1984.
Albrecht, B. A.: Aerosols, cloud microphysics, and fractional cloudiness, Science, 245, 1227–1230, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.245.4923.1227, 1989.
Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Daily Rainfall Data, http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/data/index.shtml (last access: 5 May 2024), 2024a.
Australian Bureau of Meteorology: Himawari-8 Full Disk Observational Products, Australian Bureau of Meteorology [data set], https://dapds00.nci.org.au/thredds/catalogs/ra22/satellite-products/arc/obs/himawari-ahi/fldk/fldk.html (last access: 5 May 2024), 2024b.
Bao, S., Letu, H., Zhao, J., Lei, Y., Zhao, C., Li, J., Tana, G., Liu, C., Guo, E., Zhang, J., He, J., and Bao, Y.: Spatiotemporal distributions of cloud radiative forcing and response to cloud parameters over the Mongolian Plateau during 2003–2017, Int. J. Climatol., 40, 4082–4101, https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.6444, 2020.
Berkelmans, R., De'ath, G., Kininmonth, S., and Skirving, W. J.: A comparison of the 1998 and 2002 coral bleaching events on the Great Barrier Reef: Spatial correlation, patterns and predictions, Coral Reefs, 23, 74–83, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-003-0353-y, 2004.
Bonell, M. and Gilmour, D.: Variations in short-term rainfall intensity in relation to synoptic climatological aspect of the humid tropical northeast Queensland coast, Singapore J. Trop. Geogr., 1, 16–30, 1980.
Bony, S., Dufresne, J.-L., Le Treut, H., Morcrette, J.-J., and Senior, C.: On dynamic and thermodynamic components of cloud changes, Clim. Dynam., 22, 71–86, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-003-0369-6, 2004.
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: vol. 5, Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 571–657, 2013.
Bretherton, C. S., Blossey, P. N., and Jones, C. R.: Mechanisms of marine low cloud sensitivity to idealized climate perturbations: A single-LES exploration extending the CGILS cases. J. Adv. Model. Earth Syst., 5, 316–337, https://doi.org/10.1002/jame.20019, 2013.
Bretherton, C. S. and Blossey, P. N.: Understanding mesoscale aggregation of shallow cumulus convection using large-eddy simulation, J. Adv. Model. Earth Syst., 9, 2798–2821 https://doi.org/10.1002/2017MS000981, 2017.
Bureau of Meteorology: Himawari 8/9 Full Disk Observations – Archive (ARC) data stream, NCI Australia [data set], https://doi.org/10.25914/61a609aa1434d, 2021.
Cesana, G., Del Genio, A. D., Ackerman, A. S., Kelley, M., Elsaesser, G., Fridlind, A. M., Cheng, Y., and Yao, M.-S.: Evaluating models' response of tropical low clouds to SST forcings using CALIPSO observations, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 2813–2832, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-2813-2019, 2019.
Chen, F. and Dudhia, J.: Coupling an advanced landsurface/hydrology model with the Penn State/NCAR MM5 modeling system. Part I: Model description and implementation, Mon. Weather Rev., 129, 569–585, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0493(2001)129<0569:CAALSH>2.0.CO;2, 2001.
Chen, T., Rossow, W. B., and Zhang, Y. C.: Radiative effects of cloud-type variations, J. Climate, 13, 264–286, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0442(2000)013<0264:REOCTV>2.0.CO;2, 2000.
Chin, M., Ginoux, P., Kinne, S., Torres, O., Holben, B. N., Duncan, B. N., Martin, R. V., Logan, J. A., Higurashi, A., and Nakajima, T.: Tropospheric aerosol optical thick- ness from the GOCART model and comparisons with satellite and sun photometer measurements, J. Atmos. Sci., 59, 461–483, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(2002)059<0461:TAOTFT>2.0.CO;2, 2002.
Chu, C. M. and Lin, Y. L.: Effects of orography on the generation and propagation of mesoscale convective systems in a two-dimensional conditionally unstable flow, J. Atmos. Sci., 57, 3817–3837, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(2001)057<3817:EOOOTG>2.0.CO;2, 2000.
Colarco, P., da Silva, A., Chin, M., and Diehl, T.: Online simulations of global aerosol distributions in the NASA GEOS-4 model and comparisons to satellite and ground-based aerosol optical depth, J. Geophys. Res., 115, D14207, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JD012820, 2010.
Colle, B. A., Wolfe, J. B., Steenburgh, W. J., Kingsmill, D. E., Cox, J. A. W., and Shafer, J. C.: High-resolution simulations and microphysical validation of an orographic precipitation Event over the Wasatch Mountains during IPEX IOP3, Mon. Weather Rev., 133, 2947–2971, https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR3017.1, 2005.
Crook, N. A.: Sensitivity of moist convection forced by boundary layer processes to low-level thermodynamic fields, Mon. Weather Rev., 124, 1767–1785, 1996.
Cropp, R., Gabric, A., van Tran, D., Jones, G., Swan, H., and Butler, H.: Coral reef aerosol emissions in response to irradiance stress in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Ambio, 47, 671–681, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-018-1018-y, 2018.
Dagan, G., Koren, I., Altaratz, O., and Lehahn, Y.: Shallow convective cloud field lifetime as a key factor for evaluating aerosol effects, iScience, 10, 192–202, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2018.11.032, 2018.
Deschaseaux, E., Deschaseaux, E., Jones, G., and Swan, H.: Dimethylated sulfur compounds in coral-reef ecosystems, Environ. Chem., 13, 239–251, https://doi.org/10.1071/en14258, 2016.
Eastman, R. and Wood, R.: The Competing effects of stability and humidity on subtropical stratocumulus entrainment and cloud evolution from a Lagrangian perspective, J. Atmos. Sci., 75, 2563–2578, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-18-0030.1, 2018.
Eastman, R., Warren, S. G., and Hahn, C. J.: Variations in cloud cover and cloud types over the ocean from surface observations. 1954–2008, J. Climate, 24, 5914–5934, https://doi.org/10.1175/2011JCLI3972.1, 2011.
ECMWF – European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts: ERA5 reanalysis data, ECMWF [data set], https://cds.climate.copernicus.eu/cdsapp#!/search?-type=dataset (last access: 5 May 2024), 2024.
Eleftheratos, K., Zerefos, C. S., Varotsos, C., and Kapsomenakis, I.: Interannual variability of cirrus clouds in the tropics in El NinÞo Southern Oscillation (ENSO) regions based on International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) satellite data, Int. J. Remote Sens., 32, 6395–6405, https://doi.org/10.1080/01431161.2010.510491, 2011.
Fiddes, S. L.: Modelling the atmospheric influence of coral reef-derived dimethyl sulfide, PhD thesis, School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia, http://hdl.handle.net/11343/241690 (last access: 5 May 2024), 2020.
Fiddes, S. L., Woodhouse, M. T., Lane, T. P., and Schofield, R.: Coral-reef-derived dimethyl sulfide and the climatic impact of the loss of coral reefs, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 5883–5903, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-5883-2021, 2021.
Fiddes, S. L., Woodhouse, M. T., Utembe, S., Schofield, R., Alexander, S. P., Alroe, J., Chambers, S. D., Chen, Z., Cravigan, L., Dunne, E., Humphries, R. S., Johnson, G., Keywood, M. D., Lane, T. P., Miljevic, B., Omori, Y., Protat, A., Ristovski, Z., Selleck, P., Swan, H. B., Tanimoto, H., Ward, J. P., and Williams, A. G.: The contribution of coral-reef-derived dimethyl sulfide to aerosol burden over the Great Barrier Reef: a modelling study, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 2419–2445, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-2419-2022, 2022.
Filipiak, M. J., Merchant, C. J., Kettle, H., and Le Borgne, P.: An empirical model for the statistics of sea surface diurnal warming, Ocean Sci., 8, 197–209, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-8-197-2012, 2012.
Fischer, E. and Jones, G.: Atmospheric dimethysulphide production from corals in the Great Barrier Reef and links to solar radiation, climate and coral bleaching, Biogeochemistry, 110, 31–46, 2012.
Flesch, T. K. and Reuter, G. W.: WRF model simulation of two Alberta flooding events and the impact of topography, J. Hydrometeorol., 13, 695–708. 2012.
Gentemann, C. L., Donlon, C. J., Stuart-Menteth, A., and Wentz, F. J.: Diurnal signals in satellite sea surface temperature measurements, Geophys. Res. Lett., 30, 1140, https://doi.org/10.1029/2002GL016291, 2003.
Ghan, S. J., Liu, X., Easter, R. C., Zaveri, R., Rasch, P. J., Yoon, J., and Eaton, B.: Toward a Minimal Representation of Aerosols in Climate Models: Comparative Decomposition of Aerosol Direct, Semidirect, and Indirect Radiative Forcing, J. Climate, 25, 6461–6476, https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-11-00650.1. 2012.
Gryspeerdt, E., Goren, T., Sourdeval, O., Quaas, J., Mülmenstädt, J., Dipu, S., Unglaub, C., Gettelman, A., and Christensen, M.: Constraining the aerosol influence on cloud liquid water path, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 5331–5347, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-5331-2019, 2019.
Han, Q., Rossow, W. B., Zeng, J., and Welch, R.: Three different behaviors of liquid water path of water clouds in aerosol–cloud interactions, J. Atmos. Sci., 59, 726–735. 2002.
Hersbach, H., de Rosnay, P., Bell, B., Schepers, D., Simmons, A., Soci, C., Abdalla, S., Alonso-Balmaseda, M., Balsamo, G., Bechtold, P. and Berrisfold, P.: Operational global reanalysis: Progress, future directions and synergies with NWP, ECMWF ERA Report Series, 27, 65, https://doi.org/10.21957/tkic6g3wm, 2018.
Hersbach, H., Bell, B., Berrisford, P., Hirahara, S., Horányi, A., Muñoz-Sabater, J., Nicolas, J., Peubey, C., Radu, R., Schepers, D. and Simmons, A.: The ERA5 global reanalysis, Q. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 146, 1999–2049, https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.3803, 2020.
Herwitz, S. R.: Infiltration-excess caused by Stemflow in a cyclone-prone tropical rainforest, Earth Surf. Proc. Land., 11, 401–412, https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.3290110406, 1986.
Hong, S.-Y., Noh, Y., and Dudhia, J.: A new vertical diffusion package with an explicit treatment of entrainment processes, Mon. Weather Rev., 134, 2318–2341, https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR3199.1, 2006.
Houze, R. A.: Orographic effects on precipitating clouds, Rev. Geophys., 50, RG1001, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011RG000365, 2012.
Hughes, T. P., Kerry, J. T., Álvarez-Noriega, M., Álvarez-Romero, J. G., Anderson, K. D., Baird, A. H., Babcock, R. C., Beger, M., Bellwood, D. R., Berkelmans, R., and Bridge, T. C.: Global warming and recurrent mass bleaching of corals, Nature, 543, 373–377, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature21707, 2017.
Imre, D., Abramson, E., and Daum, P.: Quantifying Cloud Induced Shortwave Absorption: An Examination of Uncertainties and of Recent Arguments for Large Excess Absorption, J. Appl. Meteorol., 35, 1991–2010, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0450(1996)035<1991:QCISAA>2.0.CO;2, 1996.
Jackson, R. L., Woodhouse, M. T., Gabric, A. J., Cropp, R. A., Swan, H. B., Deschaseaux, E. S. M., and Trounce H.: Modelling the influence of coral-reef-derived dimethylsulfide on the atmosphere of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Mar. Sci., 9, 910423, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.910423, 2022.
Janjicì, Z. I.: Comments on “Development and evaluation of a convection scheme for use in climate models”, J. Atmos. Sci., 57, 3686–3686, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(2000)057<3686:CODAEO>2.0.CO;2, 2000.
JAXA – Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency: JAXA Himawari Monitor, JAXA [data set], https://www.eorc.jaxa.jp/ptree/ (last access: 5 May 2024), 2024.
Jo, H. S., Yeh, S. W., and Cai, W.: An episodic weakening in the boreal spring SST–precipitation relationship in the western tropical Pacific since the late 1990s, J. Climate, 32, 3837–3845, https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-17-0737.1, 2019.
Jones, G., Curran, M., Swan, H., and Deschaseaux, E.: Dimethylsulfide and Coral Bleaching: Links to Solar Radiation, Low Level Cloud and the Regulation of Seawater Temperatures and Climate in the Great Barrier Reef, Am. J. Clim. Change, 6, 328–359, https://doi.org/10.4236/ajcc.2017.62017, 2017.
Jones, G. B.: The reef sulphur cycle: Influence on climate and ecosystem services, in: Ethnobiology of corals and coral reefs, edited by: Narchi, N. E. and Price, L. L., Springer, Cham, 27–57, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23763-3_3, 2015.
Lawrence, M. G.: The relationship between relative humidity and the dewpoint temperature in moist air: a simple conversion and applications, B. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 86, 225–233, https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-86-2-225, 2005.
Leahy, S. M., Kingsford, M. J., and Steinberg, C. R.: Do clouds save the Great Barrier Reef? Satellite imagery elucidates the cloud–SST relationship at the local scale, PLoS One, 8, e70400, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0070400, 2013.
Li, Z., Zuidema, P., and Zhu, P.: Simulated convective invigoration processes at trade wind cumulus cold pool boundaries, J. Atmos. Sci., 71, 2823–2841, 2014.
Lohmann, U. and Feichter, J.: Global indirect aerosol effects: A review, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 5, 715–737, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-5-715-2005, 2005.
Lu, R. and Lu, S.: Local and remote factors affecting the SST–precipitation relationship over the western North Pacific during summer, J. Climate, 27, 5132–5147, https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-13-00510.1, 2014.
Milionis, A. E. and Davies, T. D.: The effect of the prevailing weather on the statistics of atmospheric temperature inversions, Int. J. Climatol., 28, 1385–1397, https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.1613, 2008.
Mlawer, E. J., Taubman, S. J., Brown, P. D., Iacono, M. J., and Clough, S. A.: Radiative transfer for inhomogeneous atmospheres: RRTM, a validated correlated-k model for the longwave. J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 102, 16663, https://doi.org/10.1029/97JD00237, 1997.
Mumby, P., Chisholm, J., Edwards, A., Andrefouet, S., and Jaubert, J.: Cloudy weather may have saved Society Island reef corals during the 1998 ENSO event, Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 222, 209–216, https://doi.org/10.3354/meps222209, 2001.
Murphy, M. J.: Variability in the trade wind regime and wet season of Northeastern Queensland, PhD thesis, School of Earth Atmosphere and Environment, Monash University, Australia, 2017.
Narenpitak, P. and Bretherton, C. S.: Understanding negative subtropical shallow cumulus cloud feedbacks in a near-global aquaplanet model using limited area cloud-resolving simulations, J. Adv. Model. Earth Syst., 11, 1600–1626. 2019.
Narenpitak, P., Bretherton, C. S., and Khairoutdinov, M. F.: Cloud and circulation feedbacks in a near-global aquaplanet cloud-resolving model, J. Adv. Model. Earth Syst., 9, 1069–1090, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016MS000872, 2017.
Norris, J. R.: Low cloud type over the ocean from surface observations. Part II: Geographical and seasonal variations, J. Climate, 11, 383–403, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0442(1998)011<0383:LCTOTO>2.0.CO;2, 1998.
Nygård, T., Tjernström, M., and Naakka, T.: Winter thermodynamic vertical structure in the Arctic atmosphere linked to large-scale circulation, Weather Clim. Dynam., 2, 1263–1282, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-2-1263-2021, 2021.
Qu, X., Hall, A., Klein, S. A., and DeAngelis, A. M.: Positive tropical marine low-cloud cover feedback inferred from cloud-controlling factors, Geophys. Res. Lett., 42, 7767–7775, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL065627, 2015.
Rauber, R. M., Stevens, B., Ochs, H. T., Knight, C. A., Albrecht, B. A., Blyth, A. M., Fairall, C. W., Jensen, J. B., Lasher-Trapp, S. G., Mayol-Bracero, O. L., and Vali, G.: Rain in shallow cumulus over the ocean: The RICO campaign, B. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 88, 1912–1928, https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-88-12-1912, 2007.
Rieck, M., Nuijens, L., and Stevens, B.: Marine boundary layer cloud feedbacks in a constant relative humidity atmosphere, J. Atmos. Sci., 69, 2538–2550, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-11-0203.1, 2012.
Riehl, H.: Climate and Weather in the Tropics, Academic Press, 1979.
Roe, G. H.: Orographic precipitation, Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci., 33, 645–671, https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.earth.33.092203.122541, 2005.
Sarmadi, F., Huang, Y., Thompson, G., Siems, S. T., and Manton, M. J.: Simulations of orographic precipitation in the Snowy Mountains of Southeastern Australia, Atmos. Res., 219, 183–199, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2019.01.002, 2019.
Schneider, L., Barthlott, C., Barrett, A. I., and Hoose, C.: The precipitation response to variable terrain forcing over low mountain ranges in different weather regimes, Q. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 144, 970–989, https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.3250, 2018.
Skamarock, W. C., Klemp, J. B., Dudhia, J., Gill, D. O., Liu, Z., Berner, J., Wang, W., Powers, J. G., Duda, M. G., Barker, D. M., and Huang, X .Y.: A description of the advanced research WRF version 4, NCAR tech. note ncar/tn-556+ str, 145, NCAR, https://doi.org/10.5065/1DFH-6P97, 2019.
Smith, S. A., Vosper, S. B., and Field, P. R.: Sensitivity of orographic precipitation enhancement to horizontal resolution in the operational Met Office Weather forecasts. Meteorol. Appl., 22, 14–24, https://doi.org/10.1002/met.1352, 2015.
Spill, G., Stier, P., Field, P. R., and Dagan, G.: Contrasting responses of idealised and realistic simulations of shallow cumuli to aerosol perturbations. Geophys. Res. Lett., 48, e2021GL094137, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL094137, 2021.
Stevens, B. and Brenguier, J.-L.: Cloud-controlling factors: low clouds Clouds in the Perturbed Climate System: Their Relationship to Energy Balance, in: Atmospheric Dynamics, and Precipitation, edited by: Heintzenberg, J. and Charlson, R. J., MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 173–196, https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/9780262012874.003.0008, 2009.
Stuart-Smith, R. D., Brown, C. J., Ceccarelli, D. M., and Edgar, G. J.: Ecosystem restructuring along the Great Barrier Reef following mass coral bleaching, Nature, 560, 92–96, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0359-9, 2018.
Sumner, G. and Bonell, M.: Circulation and daily rainfall in the North Queensland wet seasons 1979–1982, J. Climatol., 6 , 531–549, https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.3370060507, 1986.
Takahashi, H. G. and Dado, J. M. B.: Relationship between sea surface temperature and rainfall in the Philippines during the Asian summer monsoon, J. Meteorol. Soc. Jpn. Ser. II, 96, 283–290, 2018.
Takahashi, N., Hayasaka, T., Qiu, B., and Yamaguchi, R.: Observed response of marine boundary layer cloud to the interannual variations of summertime Oyashio extension SST front, Clim. Dynam., 56, 3511–3526, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-021-05649-4, 2021.
Tao, W. K., Chen, J.-P., Li, Z., Wang, C., and Zhang, C.: Impact of Aerosols on boundary layer clouds and precipitation, Re. Geophys., 50, 2011RG000369, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011RG000369, 2012.
Thompson, G. and Eidhammer, T.: A study of aerosol impacts on clouds and precipitation development in a large winter cyclone, J. Atmos. Sci., 71, 3636–3658, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-13-0305.1, 2014.
Thompson, G., Field, P. R., Rasmussen, R. M., and Hall, W. D.: Explicit forecasts of winter precipitation using an improved bulk microphysics scheme. Part II: Implementation of a new snow parameterization, Mon. Weather Rev., 136, 5095–5115, https://doi.org/10.1175/2008MWR2387.1, 2008.
Tian, B., Waliser, D. E., and Fetzer, E. J.: Modulation of the diurnal cycle of tropical deep convective clouds by the MJO, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L20704, https://doi.org/10.1029/2006GL027752, 2006.
Trier, S. B.: Convective storms – convective initiation, in: Encyclopedia of Atmospheric Sciences, Vol. 2, edited by: Holton, J. R., Curry, J. A., and Pyle, J. A., Academic Press, London, 560–570, https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-12-227090-8/00122-6, 2003.
Twomey, S.: The influence of pollution on the shortwave albedo of clouds, J. Atmos. Sci., 34, 1149–1152, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1977)034<1149:TIOPOT>2.0.CO;2, 1977.
University of Wyoming Department of Atmospheric Science: University of Wyoming Upper-Air Sounding Data, University of Wyoming Department of Atmospheric Science [data set], http://weather.uwyo.edu/upperair/sounding.html (last access: 5 May 2024), 2024.
Vogel, R., Nuijens, L., and Stevens, B.: The role of precipitation and spatial organization in the response of trade-wind clouds to warming, J. Adv. Model. Earth Syst., 8, 843–862, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015MS000568, 2016.
Vogel, R., Nuijens, L., and Stevens, B.: Influence of deepening and mesoscale organization of shallow convection on stratiform cloudiness in the downstream trades, Q. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 146, 174–185, https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.3664, 2020.
Wang, H., Easter, R. C., Rasch, P. J., Wang, M., Liu, X., Ghan, S. J., Qian, Y., Yoon, J.-H., Ma, P.-L., and Vinoj, V.: Sensitivity of remote aerosol distributions to representation of cloud–aerosol interactions in a global climate model, Geosci. Model Dev., 6, 765–782, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-6-765-2013, 2013.
Warren, S. G., Hahn, C. J., London, J., Chervin, R. M., and Jenne, R. L.: Global distribution of total cloud cover and cloud type amounts over the ocean, Colorado Univ., Boulder, CO, Colorado Univ., Boulder, CO, and National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA, https://doi.org/10.2172/5415329, 1988.
Weston, M. J., Piketh, S. J., Burnet, F., Broccardo, S., Denjean, C., Bourrianne, T., and Formenti, P.: Sensitivity analysis of an aerosol-aware microphysics scheme in Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) during case studies of fog in Namibia, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 10221–10245, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-10221-2022, 2022.
Wheeler, M. C. and Hendon, H. H.: An all-season real-time multivariate MJO index: Development of an index for monitoring and prediction. Mon. Weather Rev., 132, 1917-1932, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0493(2004)132<1917:AARMMI>2.0.CO;2, 2004.
Wilkinson, J. M., Porson, A. N. F., Bornemann, F. J., Weeks, M., Field, P. R., and Lock, A. P.: Improved microphysical parametrization of drizzle and fog for operational forecasting using the Met Office Unified Model, Q. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 139, 488–500, https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.1975, 2013.
Wood, R.. and Bretherton, C. S.: On the Relationship between Stratiform Low Cloud Cover and Lower-Tropospheric Stability, J. Climate, 19, 6425–6432, 2006.
Wu, B., Zhou, T., and Li, T.: Contrast of rainfall–SST relationships in the western North Pacific between the ENSO-developing and ENSO-decaying summers, J. Climate, 22, 4398–4405, https://doi.org/10.1175/2009JCLI2648.1, 2009.
Wu, R. and Kirtman, B. P.: Regimes of seasonal air–sea interaction and implications for performance of forced simulations, Clim. Dynam., 29, 393–410, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-007-0246-9, 2007.
Wu, W., Liu, Y., and Betts, A. K.: Observationally based evaluation of NWP reanalyses in modeling cloud properties over the southern great plains. J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 117, D12202, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JD016971, 2012.
Wyant, M. C., Bretherton, C. S., and Blossey, P. N.: Subtropical low cloud response to a warmer climate in a superparameterized climate model. Part I: Regime sorting and physical mechanisms, J. Adv. Model. Earth Syst., 1, 7, https://doi.org/10.3894/JAMES.2009.1.7, 2009.
Yamaguchi, T., Feingold, G., and Kazil, J.: Aerosol‐cloud interactions in trade wind cumulus clouds and the role of vertical wind shear, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 124, 12244–12261, 2019.
Yuan, J. and Houze Jr., R. A.: Deep convective systems observed by a-train in the tropical indo-pacific region affected by the MJO, J. Atmos. Sci., 70, 465–486, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-12-057.1, 2013.
Zhang, H., Beggs, H., Wang, X. H., Kiss, A. E., and Griffin, C.: Seasonal patterns of SST diurnal variation over the Tropical Warm Pool region, J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 121, 8077–8094, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JC012210, 2016.
Zhang, S., Wang, M., Ghan, S. J., Ding, A., Wang, H., Zhang, K., Neubauer, D., Lohmann, U., Ferrachat, S., Takeamura, T., Gettelman, A., Morrison, H., Lee, Y., Shindell, D. T., Partridge, D. G., Stier, P., Kipling, Z., and Fu, C.: On the characteristics of aerosol indirect effect based on dynamic regimes in global climate models, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 2765–2783, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-2765-2016, 2016.
Zhang, M., Rasmussen, K. L., Meng, Z., and Huang, Y.: Impacts of coastal terrain on warm-sector heavy-rain-producing MCSs in Southern China, Mon. Weather Rev., 150, 603–624, https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-21-0190.1, 2022.
Zhao, W., Huang, Y., Siems, S., and Manton, M.: The role of clouds in coral bleaching events over the Great Barrier Reef, Geophys. Res. Lett., 48, e2021GL093936, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL093936, 2021.
Zhao, W., Huang, Y., Siems, S. T., and Manton, M. J.: A characterization of clouds over the Great Barrier Reef and the role of local forcing, Int. J. Climatol., 42, 6647–6664, https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.7660, 2022.
Short summary
We studied how shallow clouds and rain behave over the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) using a detailed weather model. We found that the shape of the land, especially mountains, and particles in the air play big roles in influencing these clouds. Surprisingly, the sea's temperature had a smaller effect. Our research helps us understand the GBR's climate and how various factors can influence it, where the importance of the local cloud in thermal coral bleaching has recently been identified.
We studied how shallow clouds and rain behave over the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) using a detailed...
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint