Zhien Wang — University of Colorado
Min Deng — University of Colorado, Boulder
Damao Zhang — Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
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Tao Luo — University of Wyoming
Category
Aerosol-Cloud-Radiation Interactions
Description
Very large differences exist among different parameterizations of ice number concentration through heterogeneous ice nucleation. DF stands for deposition-condensation freezing nucleation, and CF stands for contact freezing nucleation. CloudSat and ARM remote sensing results (red) show a potential to provide new constraints on atmospheric heterogeneous ice nucleation.
A recent model intercomparison study highlighted the challenge of simulating arctic mixed-phase clouds in a variety of state-of-the-art numerical models. An advanced understanding and representation of them in climate models is critical to reduce the uncertainties of arctic climate predication due to the high occurrence of mixed-phase clouds over the Arctic. Understanding the linkages of aerosol and ice initiation in mixed-phase clouds is a critical step to develop a physically sounded mixed-phase representation in numerical models. This poster will present the new potentials of combining long-term ARM measurements at the Barrow site and the NASA A-train satellite measurements to study the problem. With ARM data, we found that the long-range transport dust aerosols have a significant impact on mixed-phase clouds properties in the spring season compared with the other seasons. The satellite measurements clearly indicate that this aerosol impact on mixed-phase clouds through ice production is evident Arctic-wide. By combining these two data sets, we show how aerosol seasonal variations over the region affect the liquid water path, ice-liquid mass partition, and their radiative forcing of arctic mixed-phase clouds. Furthermore, the potential to develop new heterogeneous ice nucleation parameterizations with these remote measurements will be also discussed. ARM measurements provide richer information for cloud microphysical processes studies than A-train satellite measurements. On the other hand, A-train satellite measurements provide much-needed spatial coverage. The complementary aspects of these two measurements will be highlighted.
