An observation and modeling study of a multi-layered Arctic mixed-phase boundary layer cloud
Authors
Hui-Wen Lai — Pennsylvania State University
Fuqing Zhang — Penn State
David R. Stauffer — Pennsylvania State University
Brian Gaudet — Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Eugene E. Clothiaux — Pennsylvania State University
Jerry Y. Harrington — Pennsylvania State University
Johannes Verlinde — The Pennsylvania State University
Category
General topics – Clouds
Description
From May 1-3, 2013, shallow multi-layered, mixed-phase clouds were present above Barrow, Alaska, leading at various times to pristine crystals, rimed crystals, and aggregates of crystals at the surface. During this case study period, a weak surface trough was located to the north and east of Barrow with a high pressure ridge to its west. The associated surface front was located over Barrow and extended to the north over the Arctic Ocean. In preparation for Adaptive Habit modeling studies of this system, WRF was used to simulate it, capturing many of the salient cloud features present in satellite-based MODIS data and surface-based KAZR and HSRL data. To better understand the dynamic and thermodynamic structures and processes that formed and maintained these Arctic multi-layered, mixed-phase clouds, we used WRF output to investigate the formation mechanisms of those cloud features that it captured. In the WRF modeling approach six nested domains were used with horizontal resolutions scaling in ratios of 3 to 1, with the finest domain run in large eddy simulation mode at 111 m horizontal resolution in an attempt to capture horizontally aligned short wavelength cloud streets apparent in the satellite data. As we will show, multiple processes were responsible for many of the distinct cloud features present during the period.
