Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-544
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-544
28 Jun 2022
 | 28 Jun 2022

Ice fog observed at cirrus temperatures at Dome C, Antarctic Plateau

Étienne Vignon, Lea Raillard, Christophe Genthon, Massimo Del Guasta, Andrew J. Heymsfield, Jean-Baptiste Madeleine, and Alexis Berne

Abstract. As the near-surface atmosphere over the Antarctic Plateau is cold and pristine, its physico-chemical conditions resemble to a certain extent those of the high-troposphere where cirrus clouds form. In this paper, we carry out an observational analysis of two shallow fog clouds forming at cirrus-temperatures - that is, temperatures lower than 235 K - at Dome C, inner Antarctic Plateau. The combination of lidar profiles with temperature and humidity measurements from advanced thermo-hygrometers along a 45-m mast makes it possible to characterise the formation and development of the fog. High supersaturations with respect to ice are observed before the initiation of fog and the values attained suggest that the nucleation process at play is the homogeneous freezing of solution aerosol droplets. To our knowledge, this is the first time that in situ observations show that this nucleation pathway can be at the origin of an ice fog. Once nucleation occurs, the relative humidity gradually decreases down to subsaturated values with respect to ice in a few hours, likely owing to vapour deposition onto ice crystals and turbulent mixing. The development of fog is tightly coupled with the dynamics of the boundary-layer which, in the first study case, experiences a weak diurnal cycle while in the second case, transits from a very stable to a weakly stable dynamical regime. Overall, this paper highlights the potential of the site of Dome C for carrying out observational studies of cloud microphysical processes in natural conditions and using in-situ ground-based instruments.

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

06 Oct 2022
Ice fog observed at cirrus temperatures at Dome C, Antarctic Plateau
Étienne Vignon, Lea Raillard, Christophe Genthon, Massimo Del Guasta, Andrew J. Heymsfield, Jean-Baptiste Madeleine, and Alexis Berne
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 12857–12872, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-12857-2022,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-12857-2022, 2022
Short summary

Étienne Vignon et al.

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-544', Anonymous Referee #1, 05 Jul 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Étienne Vignon, 19 Aug 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-544', Anonymous Referee #2, 26 Jul 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Étienne Vignon, 19 Aug 2022
  • AC3: 'Response to editor's comments', Étienne Vignon, 19 Aug 2022

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-544', Anonymous Referee #1, 05 Jul 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Étienne Vignon, 19 Aug 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-544', Anonymous Referee #2, 26 Jul 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Étienne Vignon, 19 Aug 2022
  • AC3: 'Response to editor's comments', Étienne Vignon, 19 Aug 2022

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Étienne Vignon on behalf of the Authors (19 Aug 2022)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (08 Sep 2022) by Martina Krämer
AR by Étienne Vignon on behalf of the Authors (08 Sep 2022)

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

06 Oct 2022
Ice fog observed at cirrus temperatures at Dome C, Antarctic Plateau
Étienne Vignon, Lea Raillard, Christophe Genthon, Massimo Del Guasta, Andrew J. Heymsfield, Jean-Baptiste Madeleine, and Alexis Berne
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 12857–12872, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-12857-2022,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-12857-2022, 2022
Short summary

Étienne Vignon et al.

Étienne Vignon et al.

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Short summary
The near-surface atmosphere over the Antarctic Plateau is cold and pristine and resembles to a certain extent those of the high-troposphere where cirrus clouds form. In this study, we use innovative humidity measurements at Concordia station to study the formation of ice fogs at temperatures <-40 °C. We provide observational evidence that ice fogs can form through the homogeneous freezing of solution aerosols, a common nucleation pathway for cirrus clouds.