Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2708
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2708
06 Dec 2023
 | 06 Dec 2023

The effects of warm air intrusions in the high arctic on cirrus clouds

Georgios Dekoutsidis, Martin Wirth, and Silke Groß

Abstract. Warm Air Intrusions (WAI) are responsible for the transportation of warm and moist airmasses from the mid-latitudes into the high arctic (>70° N). In this work, we study cirrus clouds that form during WAI events (WAI cirrus) and during undisturbed arctic conditions (AC cirrus) and investigate possible differences between the two cloud types based on their macrophysical and optical properties with a focus on Relative Humidity over ice (RHi). We use airborne measurements from the combined high spectral resolution and differential absorption lidar, WALES, performed during the HALO-(AC)3 campaign. We classify each research flight and the measured clouds as either AC or WAI, based on the ambient conditions and study the macrophysical, geometrical and optical characteristics for each cirrus group. As our main parameter we choose the Relative Humidity over ice (RHi) which we calculate RHi by combining the lidar water vapor measurements with model temperatures. RHi is affected by and can be used as an indication of the nucleation process and the structure of cirrus clouds. We find that during WAI events the arctic is warmer and moister and WAI cirrus are both geometrically and optically thicker compared to AC cirrus. WAI cirrus and the layer directly surrounding them, are more frequently supersaturated, also at high supersaturations over the threshold for homogeneous ice nucleation (HOM). AC cirrus have a supersaturation dominated cloud top and a subsaturated cloud base. WAI cirrus also have high supersaturations at cloud top, but also at cloud base.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

24 May 2024
The effects of warm-air intrusions in the high Arctic on cirrus clouds
Georgios Dekoutsidis, Martin Wirth, and Silke Groß
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 5971–5987, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5971-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5971-2024, 2024
Short summary
Georgios Dekoutsidis, Martin Wirth, and Silke Groß

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-2708', Anonymous Referee #1, 04 Jan 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-2708', Eleni Marinou, 15 Feb 2024

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-2708', Anonymous Referee #1, 04 Jan 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-2708', Eleni Marinou, 15 Feb 2024

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Georgios Dekoutsidis on behalf of the Authors (11 Mar 2024)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (23 Mar 2024) by Timothy Garrett
AR by Georgios Dekoutsidis on behalf of the Authors (29 Mar 2024)

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

24 May 2024
The effects of warm-air intrusions in the high Arctic on cirrus clouds
Georgios Dekoutsidis, Martin Wirth, and Silke Groß
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 5971–5987, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5971-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5971-2024, 2024
Short summary
Georgios Dekoutsidis, Martin Wirth, and Silke Groß
Georgios Dekoutsidis, Martin Wirth, and Silke Groß

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Short summary
Since decades the earth’s temperature has been rising. The arctic regions are warming faster. Cirrus clouds can contribute to this phenomenon. During warm air intrusions, airmasses are transported into the arctic from the mid-latitudes. The HALO-(AC)3 campaign took place to measure cirrus during intrusion events and under normal conditions. We study the two cloud types based on these measurements and find differences in their geometry, relative humidity distribution and vertical structure.