Relationships between cloud properties and precipitation amount over the Amazon basin

Comparisons between the precipitation amount, P, and monthly averaged cloud properties (optical depths of low-level water clouds, τ low, and “total clouds”, τ tot, effective particle radius, r e, and columnar-integrated droplet number of low-level water clouds, N c) over the Amazon basin elucidated...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Atmospheric research 2006-11, Vol.82 (1), p.239-247
Main Author: Kawamoto, Kazuaki
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aerosols
Amazon basin
Cloud physics
Cloud properties
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
External geophysics
Meteorology
Particles and aerosols
Precipitation amount
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:Comparisons between the precipitation amount, P, and monthly averaged cloud properties (optical depths of low-level water clouds, τ low, and “total clouds”, τ tot, effective particle radius, r e, and columnar-integrated droplet number of low-level water clouds, N c) over the Amazon basin elucidated the effect of precipitation on low cloud properties and the relationship between precipitation and “total cloud” cover. The relationship between r e and P was positive, while the relationship between N c and P was negative. Since low clouds in this region generally produce little precipitation, these relationships may reflect the scavenging of aerosols by precipitation and suggest the aerosol indirect effect of the first kind. The relationship between τ tot and P was positive because the “total clouds” included actual precipitating clouds.
ISSN:0169-8095
1873-2895
DOI:10.1016/j.atmosres.2005.10.007