Stratocumulus Cloud Properties Derived from Simultaneous Satellite and Island-based Instrumentation during FIRE

Minnis, Patrick; Heck, Patrick W.; Young, David F.; Fairall, C. W.; Snider, J. B.

doi:10.1175/1520-0450(1992)031<0317:scpdfs>2.0.co;2

Cited by 186 publications

(133 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…The magnitudes of aircraft and satellite estimates of R e and LWP are similar to those obtained for observational studies of California coastal stratus summarized for the FIRE-Stratus characterization program (Minnis et al, 1992). Intercomparison of the satellite and aircraft results for the COSAT '99 cases suggests a possible bias toward satellite underestimation of LWP.…”

Section: Fig 6 Goes-derived Cloud Liquid Water Path (G M' 2 ) At 16supporting

confidence: 70%

Forecast Model Applications of Satellite-derived Cloud Parameters

Wetzel¹,

Chai²

2000

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Section: Fig 6 Goes-derived Cloud Liquid Water Path (G M' 2 ) At 16supporting

confidence: 70%

Forecast Model Applications of Satellite-derived Cloud Parameters

Wetzel¹,

Chai²

2000

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“…It is well-known that ISCCP has trouble locating cloud-top pressure under inversions and other problems, such as reporting high thin clouds as mid-level clouds over some land regions (Mace et al, 2006). Our study is particularly vulnerable to the fact that because some low-level clouds are obscured by higher (middle and high) clouds, satellites misclassify them into upper-level categories (Minnis et al, 1992;Rozendaal et al, 1995). Recent buoy observational studies have verified the underestimation of ISCCP observed low cloud amount (Ghate et al, 2009).…”

Section: Datasetsmentioning

confidence: 71%

On the relationship between low cloud variability and lower tropospheric stability in the Southeast Pacific

Sun

Hall

2011

Atmos. Chem. Phys.

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Abstract. In this study, we examine marine low cloud cover variability in the Southeast Pacific and its association with lower-tropospheric stability (LTS) across a spectrum of timescales. On both daily and interannual timescales, LTS and low cloud amount are very well correlated in austral summer (DJF). Meanwhile in winter (JJA), when ambient LTS increases, the LTS-low cloud relationship substantially weakens. The DJF LTS-low cloud relationship also weakens in years with unusually large ambient LTS values. These are generally strong El Niño years, in which DJF LTS values are comparable to those typically found in JJA. Thus the LTSlow cloud relationship is strongly modulated by the seasonal cycle and the ENSO phenomenon. We also investigate the origin of LTS anomalies closely associated with low cloud variability during austral summer. We find that the ocean and atmosphere are independently involved in generating anomalies in LTS and hence variability in the Southeast Pacific low cloud deck. This highlights the importance of the physical (as opposed to chemical) component of the climate system in generating internal variability in low cloud cover. It also illustrates the coupled nature of the climate system in this region, and raises the possibility of cloud feedbacks related to LTS. We conclude by addressing the implications of the LTS-low cloud relationship in the Southeast Pacific for low cloud feedbacks in anthropogenic climate change.

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“…(Han et al 1994). On the lower limit, sizes down to 2 μm have been reported from satellite measurements (Minnis et al 1992), and on the upper limit, sizes up to 25 μm (Goloub et al 2000).…”

Section: Our Model Atmospheresmentioning

confidence: 92%

Flux and polarisation spectra of water clouds on exoplanets

Karalidi

Stam

Hovenier

2011

A&A

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Context.A crucial factor for a planet's habitability is its climate. Clouds play an important role in planetary climates. Detecting and characterising clouds on an exoplanet is therefore crucial when addressing this planet's habitability. Aims. We present calculated flux and polarisation spectra of starlight that is reflected by planets covered by liquid water clouds with different optical thicknesses, altitudes, and particle sizes, as functions of the phase angle α. We discuss the retrieval of these cloud properties from observed flux and polarisation spectra. Methods. Our model planets have black surfaces and atmospheres with Earth-like temperature and pressure profiles. We calculate the spectra from 0.3 to 1.0 μm, using an adding-doubling radiative transfer code with integration over the planetary disk. The cloud particles' scattering properties are calculated using a Mie-algorithm. Results. Both flux and polarisation spectra are sensitive to the cloud optical thickness, altitude and particle sizes, depending on the wavelength and phase angle α. Conclusions. Reflected fluxes are sensitive to cloud optical thicknesses up to ∼40, and the polarisation to thicknesses up to ∼20. The shapes of polarisation features as functions of α are relatively independent of the cloud optical thickness. Instead, they depend strongly on the cloud particles' size and shape, and can thus be used for particle characterisation. In particular, a rainbow strongly indicates the presence of liquid water droplets. Single scattering features such as rainbows, which can be observed in polarisation, are virtually unobservable in reflected fluxes, and fluxes are thus less useful for cloud particle characterisation. Fluxes are sensitive to cloud top altitudes mostly for α < 60 • and wavelengths <0.4 μm, and the polarisation for α around 90 • and wavelengths between 0.4 and 0.6 μm.

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Stratocumulus Cloud Properties Derived from Simultaneous Satellite and Island-based Instrumentation during FIRE

Cited by 186 publications

References 12 publications

Forecast Model Applications of Satellite-derived Cloud Parameters

Forecast Model Applications of Satellite-derived Cloud Parameters

On the relationship between low cloud variability and lower tropospheric stability in the Southeast Pacific

Flux and polarisation spectra of water clouds on exoplanets

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