The variation of the microphysical properties of arctic stratus clouds as a function of aerosol concentration: results from ISDAC

 
Poster PDF

Authors

Greg McFarquhar — University of Oklahoma
Sarah D. Brooks — Texas A&M University
Peter Liu — Environment Canada
Michael Earle — Environment Canada
Robert Jackson — Argonne National Laboratory

Category

Aerosol-Cloud-Radiation Interactions

Description

During the Indirect and Semi-Direct Aerosol Campaign (ISDAC), a comprehensive data set on the microphysical and radiative properties of boundary layer clouds and aerosols was collected using an unprecedented 41 state-of-the-art cloud and aerosol instruments installed on the National Research Council of Canada Convair-580, which flew 27 sorties for more than 100 hours on 12 different days in the vicinity of Barrow, Alaska, in April 2008. Data from a cloud droplet probe, a two-dimensional stereo probe, and cloud and precipitation imaging probes are used to determine best estimates of cloud drop concentrations, ice crystal concentrations, liquid and ice crystal effective radii, and maximum crystal sizes as a function of aerosol concentrations measured using a Passive Cavity Aerosol Spectrometer Probe (PCASP) and ice nuclei concentrations measured by a Continuous Flow Diffusion Chamber (CFDC). In this presentation, the relationship between the aerosol and cloud microphysical quantities is examined in the context of varying meteorological and surface conditions in an effort to assess the impact of the glaciation, riming, and second indirect effects in arctic boundary layer clouds.