Simultaneous evaluation of ice cloud microphysics and nonsphericity of the cloud optical properties using hydrometeor video sonde and radiometer sonde in situ observations

This study utilizes hydrometeor sonde and radiometer sonde in situ observations to simultaneously evaluate ice cloud microphysics and radiative fluxes. In addition, the impact of nonsphericity and heterogeneous ice nucleation schemes on radiative fluxes are examined using a double‐moment bulk cloud...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of geophysical research. Atmospheres 2014-06, Vol.119 (11), p.6681-6701
Main Authors: Seiki, Tatsuya, Satoh, Masaki, Tomita, Hirofumi, Nakajima, Teruyuki
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
cloud ice
cloud microphysics
cloud radiative forcing
cloud resolving model
Clouds
Crystals
Fluxes
Geophysics
Ice
Ice clouds
Meteorology
Microphysics
Nickel
Nucleation
Optical properties
Simulation
Sondes
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This study utilizes hydrometeor sonde and radiometer sonde in situ observations to simultaneously evaluate ice cloud microphysics and radiative fluxes. In addition, the impact of nonsphericity and heterogeneous ice nucleation schemes on radiative fluxes are examined using a double‐moment bulk cloud microphysics scheme on a midlatitude frontal system. The distribution of simulated outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) is systematically reduced by assuming the presence of columnar ice crystals instead of planar ice crystals because of the difference in the effective radii (the projected area) between the two shapes. However, the choice of the heterogeneous ice nucleation schemes drastically changes the distribution of OLR by modifying the number concentration of the cloud ice (Ni) (more than tenfold). The observed shortwave fluxes are useful for evaluating the simulated number concentration of cloud ice when nonspherical single scattering properties are used instead of spherical single scattering properties. The dependence of the asymmetry factor on the effective radius is the key to quantitatively estimating the ice cloud radiative forcing and determining the aerosol indirect effect on ice clouds. Based on the comparison of shortwave fluxes, the cloud microphysics scheme was found to underestimate the Ni near the cloud base (a robust bias). A possible method of modifying the bias is discussed. Key Points Vertical profiles of simulated cirrus are evaluated The sonde observations are useful to evaluate The asymmetry factor is important for shortwave radiation
ISSN:2169-897X
2169-8996
DOI:10.1002/2013JD021086