Distribution of cloud geometrical properties and types over the Mediterranean: insights from a decade of CloudSat and 1 year of EarthCARE measurements and ERA5 comparison

Abstract. Space-based radar observations from the CloudSat mission are used to characterize cloud properties over the Mediterranean during 2007–2017. CloudSat’s Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR) provides vertically resolved cloud measurements, enabling analysis of cloud geometry and type by altitude and month. Low clouds (<1 km a.s.l.) occur up to four times more frequently over sea (32–39 %) than land (8–12 %). Over land, clouds are most common between 1–4 km, dominated by Stratocumulus (36 %), with Altocumulus and Altostratus also present. Over sea, clouds peak at 0–2 km, with Stratocumulus most prevalent, especially in the West Mediterranean. High-level clouds peak at 8–11 km, reaching frequencies of ~30 % across the region. Seasonally, Stratocumulus peaks in winter and autumn, while Cumulus maximizes in July–August, particularly in the East Mediterranean. Altostratus and Nimbostratus are least frequent in summer, whereas Altocumulus peaks over East Mediterranean in July–August. High clouds show maxima in spring–early summer and autumn, with minima in midsummer. CloudSat column water and ice are compared with ERA5 reanalysis. Both datasets show similar spatial and seasonal patterns, with higher values over the western and central Mediterranean. Liquid water differences (−0.004 to −0.008 kg/m²) indicate good agreement, while larger ice discrepancies (up to −0.024 ± 0.017 kg/m²) suggest underdetection of thin clouds in ERA5. Preliminary results from the EarthCARE mission are presented but are limited by shorter records. Overall, this study supports improved Climate Data Records and continuity between past, current and future satellite observations.