A radar view of ice microphysics and turbulence  in Arctic cloud systems

Yan, Jialin; Oue, Mariko; Kollias, Pavlos; Luke, Edward; Yang, Fan

doi:10.5194/acp-25-16479-2025

Articles | Volume 25, issue 22

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-16479-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-16479-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 25, issue 22

Research article

|

24 Nov 2025

Research article |

| 24 Nov 2025

A radar view of ice microphysics and turbulence in Arctic cloud systems

Jialin Yan, Mariko Oue, Pavlos Kollias, Edward Luke, and Fan Yang

Data sets

Ceilometer (CEIL), 1997- 12-11 to 2025-04-12, North Slope Alaska (NSA), D. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.5439/1181954

Ka ARM Zenith Radar (KAZRSPECCMASKMDCOPOL), North Slope Alaska (NSA) N. Bharadwaj et al. https://doi.org/10.5439/1976090

Balloon-Borne Sounding System (SONDEWNPN), 2002-04-28 to 2025-05-06, North Slope Alaska (NSA) E. Keeler et al. https://doi.org/10.5439/1595321

Short summary

In this study, we analyzed over six years of ground-based radar and weather balloon data collected in northern Alaska. We found that ice particle changes depend strongly on temperature, humidity conditions, and turbulence. We also found that turbulence and the presence of supercooled liquid water often occur together, and when they do, ice particle growth is especially strong. These findings help scientists to improve weather models.