| 05 May 2026
Origin and evolution of satellite-observed cirrus clouds using Lagrangian microphysical modeling – Part 2: Evaluation and sensitivity analysis
Abstract. Linking cirrus cloud microphysical properties, their formation history, and their origin – whether liquid or in situ – to global satellite observations will represent a major step toward understanding these clouds, which are climatically important but not yet fully understood. This link is established by integrating Lagrangian microphysical modelling along air parcel trajectories ending at the points of satellite observations. In Part 1 of this study, detailed microphysical Lagrangian cirrus model CLaMS-Ice was coupled with DARDAR-Nice satellite retrievals to establish the DC-Ice (DARDAR → CLaMS-Ice) framework, enabling the derivation of origin-based metrics associated with satellite observations. Here, we evaluate the performance of the DC-Ice for revisited case studies and examine its sensitivity to key model parameters. Simulated ice crystal number concentration (Ni) and ice water content (IWC) are statistically compared with satellite retrievals and in situ observations. DC-Ice shows good agreement with observations for Ni and IWC, except for orographic cirrus, where the IWC from DC-Ice is lower than that from DARDAR-Nice. Sensitivity experiments indicate that variations in the parameterised sedimentation affect the simulated microphysical properties, especially IWC, while temperature fluctuations influence Ni. Nevertheless, it appears from the sensitivity analysis that origin-based metrics proved relatively robust except under most configurations. These findings highlight the viability of incorporating origin-based metrics into satellite observations, paving the way for improved global understanding of cirrus origins and their impact on the climate system. Future development includes the implementation of a three-dimensional sedimentation scheme in CLaMS-Ice and the extension of the framework to tropical regions.
Competing interests: At least one of the (co-)authors is a member of the editorial board of Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics.
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