Articles | Volume 25, issue 17
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-9957-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-9957-2025
Research article
 | 
08 Sep 2025
Research article |  | 08 Sep 2025

Tropical cirrus evolution in a kilometer-scale model with improved ice microphysics

Blaž Gasparini, Rachel Atlas, Aiko Voigt, Martina Krämer, and Peter N. Blossey

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Cited articles

Achatz, U., Alexander, M. J., Becker, E., Chun, H.-Y., Dörnbrack, A., Holt, L., Plougonven, R., Polichtchouk, I., Sato, K., Sheshadri, A., Stephan, C. C., van Niekerk, A., and Wright, C. J.: Atmospheric Gravity Waves: Processes and Parameterization, J. Atmos. Sci., 81, 237–262, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-23-0210.1, 2024. a
Ansmann, A., Tesche, M., Althausen, D., Müller, D., Seifert, P., Freudenthaler, V., Heese, B., Wiegner, M., Pisani, G., Knippertz, P., and Dubovik, O.: Influence of Saharan Dust on Cloud Glaciation in Southern Morocco during the Saharan Mineral Dust Experiment, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 113, 1–16, https://doi.org/10.1029/2007JD008785, 2008. a
Atlas, R. and Bretherton, C. S.: Aircraft observations of gravity wave activity and turbulence in the tropical tropopause layer: prevalence, influence on cirrus clouds, and comparison with global storm-resolving models, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 4009–4030, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-4009-2023, 2023. a, b, c, d
Atlas, R., Bretherton, C. S., Sokol, A. B., Blossey, P. N., and Khairoutdinov, M. F.: Tropical Cirrus Are Highly Sensitive to Ice Microphysics Within a Nudged Global Storm-Resolving Model, Geophys. Res. Lett., 51, e2023GL105868, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL105868, 2024. a, b
Avery, M., Winker, D., Heymsfield, A., Vaughan, M., Young, S., Hu, Y., and Trepte, C.: Cloud Ice Water Content Retrieved from the CALIOP Space-Based Lidar, Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, 2–7, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011GL050545, 2012. a
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Short summary
The evolution of tropical cirrus clouds is poorly understood, which contributes to large uncertainties in climate projections. To address this issue, we use novel tracers in a cloud-resolving model to track the life cycle of cirrus clouds. This approach provides insights into cloud formation, ice crystal evolution, and radiative effects of cirrus clouds. Additionally, we improve the model's cloud microphysics using a simple, computationally efficient approach that can be applied to other models.
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