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Comparison of Antarctic and Arctic Single‐Layer Stratiform Mixed‐Phase Cloud Properties Using Ground‐Based Remote Sensing Measurements
Author(s) -
Zhang Damao,
Vogelmann Andrew,
Kollias Pavlos,
Luke Edward,
Yang Fan,
Lubin Dan,
Wang Zhien
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-8996
pISSN - 2169-897X
DOI - 10.1029/2019jd030673
Subject(s) - liquid water path , liquid water , geology , atmospheric sciences , liquid water content , effective radius , cloud top , supercooling , environmental science , polar , mixed layer , arctic , phase (matter) , meteorology , cloud computing , aerosol , climatology , oceanography , physics , earth science , quantum mechanics , galaxy , computer science , operating system , astronomy
Ground‐based remote sensing measurements from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program (ARM) West Antarctic Radiation Experiment (AWARE) campaign at the McMurdo station and the ARM North Slope of Alaska (NSA) Utqiaġvik site are used to retrieve and analyze single‐layer stratiform mixed‐phase cloud macrophysical and microphysical properties for these different polar environments. Single‐layer stratiform mixed‐phase clouds have annual frequencies of occurrence of ~14.7% at Utqiaġvik and ~7.3% at McMurdo, with the highest occurrences in early autumn. Compared to Utqiaġvik, stratiform mixed‐phase clouds at McMurdo have overall higher and colder cloud‐tops, thicker ice layer depth, thinner liquid‐dominated layer depth, and smaller liquid water path. These properties show clear seasonal variations. Supercooled liquid fraction at McMurdo is greater than at Utqiaġvik because, at a given temperature, McMurdo clouds have comparable liquid water paths but smaller ice water paths. Analyses of retrieved cloud microphysical properties show that compared to Utqiaġvik, stratiform mixed‐phase clouds at McMurdo have greater liquid droplet number concentration, smaller layer‐mean effective radius, and smaller ice water content and ice number concentration at a given cloud‐top temperature. These relationships may be related to different aerosol loading and chemical composition, and environment dynamics. Results presented in this study can be used as observational constraints for model representations of stratiform mixed‐phase clouds.