Aerosol–cloud interactions in cirrus clouds based on global-scale airborne observations and machine learning models

Ngo, Derek; Diao, Minghui; Patnaude, Ryan J.; Woods, Sarah; Diskin, Glenn

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-7007-2025

Articles | Volume 25, issue 13

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-7007-2025

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

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-7007-2025

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

Articles | Volume 25, issue 13

Research article

|

10 Jul 2025

Research article |

| 10 Jul 2025

Aerosol–cloud interactions in cirrus clouds based on global-scale airborne observations and machine learning models

Derek Ngo, Minghui Diao, Ryan J. Patnaude, Sarah Woods, and Glenn Diskin

Supplement

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-7007-2025-supplement

Data sets

DC3: Low Rate (LRT - 1 sps) Navigation, State Parameter, and Microphysics Flight-Level Data (NetCDF). Version 3.0 UCAR/NCAR https://doi.org/10.5065/D6BC3WKB

ORCAS: Low Rate (LRT - 1 sps) Navigation, State Parameter, and Microphysics Flight-Level Data. Version 1.1 UCAR/NCAR https://doi.org/10.5065/D65T3HWR

HIPPO2: Low Rate (LRT - 1 sps) Navigation, State Parameter, and Microphysics Flight-Level Data. Version 5.0 UCAR/NCAR https://doi.org/10.5065/D6JW8C64

HIPPO3: Low Rate (LRT - 1 sps) Navigation, State Parameter, and Microphysics Flight-Level Data. Version 5.0 UCAR/NCAR https://doi.org/10.5065/D6QF8R6R

HIPPO4: Low Rate (LRT - 1 sps) Navigation, State Parameter, and Microphysics Flight-Level Data. Version 3.0 UCAR/NCAR https://doi.org/10.5065/D6V40SK6

HIPPO5: Low Rate (LRT - 1 sps) Navigation, State Parameter, and Microphysics Flight-Level Data. Version 3.0 UCAR/NCAR https://doi.org/10.5065/D6CZ35HX

START08: Low Rate (LRT - 1 sps) Navigation, State Parameter, and Microphysics Flight-Level Data. Version 2.0 UCAR/NCAR https://doi.org/10.5065/D6NZ85Z4

TORERO: Low Rate (LRT - 1 sps) Navigation, State Parameter, and Microphysics Flight-Level Data. Version 3.0 UCAR/NCAR https://doi.org/10.5065/D6668BHR

CONTRAST: Low Rate (LRT - 1 sps) Navigation, State Parameter, and Microphysics Flight-Level Data. Version 1.3 UCAR/NCAR https://doi.org/10.5065/D6TX3CK0

PREDICT: Low Rate (LRT - 1 sps) Navigation, State Parameter, and Microphysics Flight-Level Data. Version 3.0 UCAR/NCAR https://doi.org/10.5065/D61R6NV5

ATTREX Campaign NASA Data https://espo.nasa.gov/attrex

MACPEX Campaign NASA Data https://espo.nasa.gov/macpex

NASA-DC3 Campaign NASA Data https://www-air.larc.nasa.gov/missions/dc3-seac4rs/

POSIDON Campaign NASA Data https://espo.nasa.gov/posidon

SEAC4RS Campaign NASA Data https://www-air.larc.nasa.gov/missions/seac4rs/

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Short summary

Key controlling factors of cirrus clouds were individually quantified using machine learning models based on global-scale in situ observations from 12 campaigns at 67° S–87° N. Relative humidity shows much larger effects on cirrus occurrences and ice water content (IWC) fluctuations than vertical velocity. Aerosol–cloud interactions are seen for both large and small aerosols, with higher IWC and ice crystal number concentration under higher aerosol concentrations. Large aerosols are more impactful than small aerosols.