Unraveling secondary ice production in winter orographic clouds through a synergy of in-situ observations, remote sensing and modeling

Athanasios Nenes, Alexis Berne, Satoshi Takahama, Georgia Sotiropoulou, Paraskevi Georgakaki, Romanos Foskinis, Kunfeng Gao, Anne-Claire Marie Billault--Roux
2023
Journal paper

Abstract

Recent years have shown that secondary ice production (SIP) is ubiquitous, affecting all clouds from polar to tropical regions. SIP is not described well in models and for this may vastly underpredict ice crystal number concentrations in warm mixed-phase clouds. Through a synergy of modeling, remote sensing and in-situ measurements carried out in an orographic environment during the Cloud-AerosoL InteractionS in the Helmos background TropOsphere (CALISHTO) campaign, we show that SIP can have a profound impact on the vertical distribution of hydrometeors and precipitation, especially in seeder-feeder configurations which are encountered in multi-layered cloud systems. The mesoscale model simulations coupled with a radar simulator strongly support a unique signature that is characteristic of SIP; because of this, our study opens the possibility of using the vast global archive of cloud radar data for systematically inferring SIP signatures and frequency of occurrence.

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/310713?ln=en

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Ontological neighbourhood

Earth science

Atmospheric science: Meteorology

Related concepts (32)

Cloud

In meteorology, a cloud is an aerosol consisting of a visible mass of miniature liquid droplets, frozen crystals, or other particles suspended in the atmosphere of a planetary body or similar space. Water or various other chemicals may compose the droplets and crystals. On Earth, clouds are formed as a result of saturation of the air when it is cooled to its dew point, or when it gains sufficient moisture (usually in the form of water vapor) from an adjacent source to raise the dew point to the ambient temperature.

Cloud physics

Cloud physics is the study of the physical processes that lead to the formation, growth and precipitation of atmospheric clouds. These aerosols are found in the troposphere, stratosphere, and mesosphere, which collectively make up the greatest part of the homosphere. Clouds consist of microscopic droplets of liquid water (warm clouds), tiny crystals of ice (cold clouds), or both (mixed phase clouds), along with microscopic particles of dust, smoke, or other matter, known as condensation nuclei.

Precipitation types

In meteorology, the different types of precipitation often include the character, formation, or phase of the precipitation which is falling to ground level. There are three distinct ways that precipitation can occur. Convective precipitation is generally more intense, and of shorter duration, than stratiform precipitation. Orographic precipitation occurs when moist air is forced upwards over rising terrain and condenses on the slope, such as a mountain.

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Data and scripts for "Unraveling secondary ice production in winter orographic clouds through a synergy of in-situ observations, remote sensing and modeling"

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