Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-898
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-898
11 May 2023
 | 11 May 2023

Overview and statistical analysis of boundary layer clouds and precipitation over the western North-Atlantic Ocean

Simon Kirschler, Christiane Voigt, Bruce E. Anderson, Gao Chen, Ewan C. Crosbie, Richard A. Ferrare, Valerian Hahn, Johnathan W. Hair, Stefan Kaufmann, Richard H. Moore, David Painemal, Claire E. Robinson, Kevin J. Sanchez, Amy J. Scarino, Taylor J. Shingler, Michael A. Shook, Kenneth L. Thornhill, Edward L. Winstead, Luke D. Ziemba, and Armin Sorooshian

Abstract. Due to their fast evolution and large variability, the accurate representation of boundary layer clouds in current climate models remains a challenge. One of the regions with large intermodel spread of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 ensemble is the western North-Atlantic Ocean. Here, statistically representative in-situ measurements can help to develop and constrain the parameterization of clouds in global models. To this end, we performed comprehensive measurements of boundary layer clouds, aerosol, trace gases, and radiation in the western North-Atlantic Ocean during the NASA Aerosol Cloud meTeorology Interactions oVer the western ATlantic Experiment (ACTIVATE) mission. 174 research flights with 574 flight hours for cloud and precipitation measurements were performed with the HU-25 Falcon during three winter (February–March 2020, January–April 2021, and November 2021–March 2022) and three summer seasons (August–September 2020, May–June 2021, and May–June 2022). Here we present a statistical evaluation of 17209 individual cloud events probed by the Fast Cloud Droplet Probe and the Two-Dimensional Stereo cloud probe during 155 research flights in a representative and repetitive flight strategy allowing for robust statistical data analyses. We show that the vertical profiles of distributions of the liquid water content and the cloud droplet effective diameter (ED) increase with altitude in the marine boundary layer. Due to higher updraft speeds, higher cloud droplet number concentrations (Nliquid) were measured in winter compared to summer despite lower cloud condensation nuclei abundance. Flight cloud cover derived from statistical analysis of in-situ data is reduced in summer and shows large variability. This seasonal contrast in cloud coverage is consistent with a dominance of a synoptic pattern in winter that favors conditions for the formation of stratiform clouds in the western edge of cyclones (post-cyclonic). In contrast, a dominant summer anticyclone is concomitant with the occurrence of shallow cumulus clouds and lower cloud coverage. The evaluation of boundary layer clouds and precipitation in the Nliquid-ED phase space sheds light on liquid, mixed-phase, and ice cloud properties and helps to understand their formation. Ice and liquid precipitation, often masked in cloud statistics by high abundance of liquid clouds, is often observed throughout the cloud. The ACTIVATE in-situ cloud measurements provide a wealth of cloud information useful for assessing airborne and satellite remote sensing product, for global climate and weather model evaluations, and for dedicated process studies that address precipitation and aerosol-cloud interactions.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

27 Sep 2023
Overview and statistical analysis of boundary layer clouds and precipitation over the western North Atlantic Ocean
Simon Kirschler, Christiane Voigt, Bruce E. Anderson, Gao Chen, Ewan C. Crosbie, Richard A. Ferrare, Valerian Hahn, Johnathan W. Hair, Stefan Kaufmann, Richard H. Moore, David Painemal, Claire E. Robinson, Kevin J. Sanchez, Amy J. Scarino, Taylor J. Shingler, Michael A. Shook, Kenneth L. Thornhill, Edward L. Winstead, Luke D. Ziemba, and Armin Sorooshian
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 10731–10750, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10731-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10731-2023, 2023
Short summary
Simon Kirschler, Christiane Voigt, Bruce E. Anderson, Gao Chen, Ewan C. Crosbie, Richard A. Ferrare, Valerian Hahn, Johnathan W. Hair, Stefan Kaufmann, Richard H. Moore, David Painemal, Claire E. Robinson, Kevin J. Sanchez, Amy J. Scarino, Taylor J. Shingler, Michael A. Shook, Kenneth L. Thornhill, Edward L. Winstead, Luke D. Ziemba, and Armin Sorooshian

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-898', Anonymous Referee #1, 29 May 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-898', Anonymous Referee #2, 15 Jun 2023
  • AC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-898', Simon Kirschler, 28 Jul 2023

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-898', Anonymous Referee #1, 29 May 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-898', Anonymous Referee #2, 15 Jun 2023
  • AC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-898', Simon Kirschler, 28 Jul 2023

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Simon Kirschler on behalf of the Authors (28 Jul 2023)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (07 Aug 2023) by Matthew Lebsock
AR by Simon Kirschler on behalf of the Authors (10 Aug 2023)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

27 Sep 2023
Overview and statistical analysis of boundary layer clouds and precipitation over the western North Atlantic Ocean
Simon Kirschler, Christiane Voigt, Bruce E. Anderson, Gao Chen, Ewan C. Crosbie, Richard A. Ferrare, Valerian Hahn, Johnathan W. Hair, Stefan Kaufmann, Richard H. Moore, David Painemal, Claire E. Robinson, Kevin J. Sanchez, Amy J. Scarino, Taylor J. Shingler, Michael A. Shook, Kenneth L. Thornhill, Edward L. Winstead, Luke D. Ziemba, and Armin Sorooshian
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 10731–10750, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10731-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10731-2023, 2023
Short summary
Simon Kirschler, Christiane Voigt, Bruce E. Anderson, Gao Chen, Ewan C. Crosbie, Richard A. Ferrare, Valerian Hahn, Johnathan W. Hair, Stefan Kaufmann, Richard H. Moore, David Painemal, Claire E. Robinson, Kevin J. Sanchez, Amy J. Scarino, Taylor J. Shingler, Michael A. Shook, Kenneth L. Thornhill, Edward L. Winstead, Luke D. Ziemba, and Armin Sorooshian

Data sets

Aerosol Cloud meTeorology Interactions oVer the western ATlantic Experiment Armin Sorooshian http://doi.org/10.5067/SUBORBITAL/ACTIVATE/DATA001

Simon Kirschler, Christiane Voigt, Bruce E. Anderson, Gao Chen, Ewan C. Crosbie, Richard A. Ferrare, Valerian Hahn, Johnathan W. Hair, Stefan Kaufmann, Richard H. Moore, David Painemal, Claire E. Robinson, Kevin J. Sanchez, Amy J. Scarino, Taylor J. Shingler, Michael A. Shook, Kenneth L. Thornhill, Edward L. Winstead, Luke D. Ziemba, and Armin Sorooshian

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Short summary
In this study we present an overview of liquid and mixed-phase clouds and precipitation in the marine boundary layer over the western North-Atlantic Ocean. We compare microphysical properties of pure liquid clouds to mixed-phase clouds and show that the initiation of the ice phase in mixed-phase clouds promotes precipitation. The observational data presented in this study is well suited for investigating the processes that give rise to liquid and mixed-phase clouds, ice and precipitation.