Examining Cloud Phase in Convective Conditions at Darwin

 
Poster PDF

Authors

Laura Dian Riihimaki — CIRES | NOAA ESRL GML
Jennifer M. Comstock — Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Edward Luke — Brookhaven National Laboratory
Tyler Thorsen — NASA - Langley Research Center
Qiang Fu — University of Washington

Category

Microphysics (cloud and/or aerosol)

Description

Knowledge of cloud phase allows us to better understand cloud radiative effects as well as processes that impact cloud lifecycle, yet phase can be quite challenging to observe and model correctly. Vertically pointing active instruments have a lot of potential to observe cloud phase. While most previous ARM studies on cloud phase have been done at the Arctic sites, here we examine active sensor data at Darwin, Australia for its potential to describe cloud phase in convective conditions. Data from the vertically pointing Raman Lidar and KAZR instruments are used to examine case studies from thin altocumulus and deeper cumulus with mixed-phase conditions. Mixed-phase conditions can be identified with high confidence when Raman Lidar depolarization ratio is available, but the Raman Lidar attenuates quickly in liquid water conditions. Thus coincident Raman Lidar and KAZR observations are used to evaluate the potential of multiple moments of the KAZR Doppler spectra to identify cloud phase accurately when the Raman Lidar is not available.