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At least 577 records · Page 32

Updraft Width Modulates Ambient Atmospheric Controls on Convective Cloud Depth

Abstract The depth of convective clouds affects vertical transport of atmospheric constituents, influencing downstream weather and climate. Atmospheric controls on the maximum depth reached by moist convection are investigated with radar‐tracked convective cells tagged with sounding‐derived atmospheric parameters from a field campaign in central Argentina. Regression analyses show that narrow (<12‐km diameter) and wide (>16‐km diameter) cell depths respond to disparate factors, where cell areas are defined using composite reflectivity signatures. Undiluted lifted parcel indices including convective available potential energy (CAPE) and level of neutral buoyancy (LNB) are top predictors of wide cell maximum depth while mid‐tropospheric relative humidity is the top predictor of narrow cell maximum depth. Because narrow cells are more numerous than wide cells, the overall outcome of the full cell population does not strongly correlate with CAPE and LNB conditions. Tracked cells and atmospheric conditions in a simulation with 3‐km grid spacing covering the field campaign produce similar results to those observed. Narrow cells that are relatively deep have a cooler and moister mid‐troposphere with weaker free tropospheric subsidence, while relatively deep wide cells have much warmer and moister lower tropospheric conditions. These atmospheric differences are present 1 hr before cell initiation at both a fixed observing site and variable cell initiation locations. Simulated narrow cell maximum equivalent potential temperature decreases with height at a rate similar to the ambient vertical gradient, causing these cells to fall short of their LNB and supporting the view that entrainment‐driven dilution is a dominant control on their depth.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Lidar Measurements of Wind, and Cloud & Aerosol Structures using HARLIE at the WVIOP, Sept/Oct 2000

The holographic scanning lidar HARLIE made continuous measurements of aerosol and cloud one-micron backscatter and derived the horizontal wind speed and direction at cloud height over the ARM (SGP) site during the water vapor campaign WVIOP, September 17 - October 6, 2000. Whenever possible, these measurements were compared with Loran-C winds as measured by the routine launches of Vaisala radiosonde balloons scheduled by the ARM project. Taken overall, the agreement between these two types of observation is excellent, which could be taken merely as a validation of the relatively new HARLIE technique. However, the detailed comparison for a given sonde launch clearly requires that, out of the HARLIE data which are taken all the time at all altitudes, one must select those segments that match the altitude-time trajectory of the sonde. Moreover, the conical HARLIE scan at a 45 deg. elevation angle covers a wide area that is more representative of the average wind conditions above the site than the isolated track of the sonde's ascent. We suggest that the HARLIE instrument offers a more general and improved representation of the horizontal wind profile whenever there is sufficient backscatter by clouds and aerosols for lidar operation. HARLIE is a rugged and compact lidar that operates from aircraft as well as from the ground and has been used in several meteorological campaigns. As a "direct detection" lidar, HARLIE does not require the complexity of a coherent detection system. The data reduction algorithms facilitate the rapid and accurate determination of wind speed and direction at all altitudes. Wind measurements and HARLIE performance data from WVIOP 2000 and other campaigns will be presented.

Schwemmer, Geary↗

Measurement and Modeling of Vertically Resolved Aerosol Optical Properties and Radiative Fluxes Over the ARM SGP Site

In order to meet one of its goals - to relate observations of radiative fluxes and radiances to the atmospheric composition - the Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program has pursued measurements and modeling activities that attempt to determine how aerosols impact atmospheric radiative transfer, both directly and indirectly. However, significant discrepancies between aerosol properties measured in situ or remotely remain. One of the objectives of the Aerosol Intensive Operational Period (TOP) conducted by ARM in May 2003 at the ARM Southern Great Plains (SGP) site in north central Oklahoma was to examine and hopefully reduce these differences. The IOP involved airborne measurements from two airplanes over the heavily instrumented SGP site. We give an overview of airborne results obtained aboard the Center for Interdisciplinary Remotely-Piloted Aircraft Studies (CIRPAS) Twin Otter aircraft. The Twin Otter performed 16 research flights over the SGP site. The aircraft carried instrumentation to perform in-situ measurements of aerosol absorption, scattering, extinction and particle size. This included such novel techniques as the photoacoustic and cavity ring-down methods for in-situ absorption (675 nm) and extinction (675 and 1550 nm) and a new multiwavelength, filter-based absorption photometer (467, 530, 660 nm). A newly developed instrument measured cloud condensation nucleus concentration (CCN) concentrations at two supersaturation levels. Aerosol optical depth and extinction (354-2139 nm) were measured with the NASA Ames Airborne Tracking 14-channel sunphotometer. Furthermore, up-and downwelling solar (broadband and spectral) and infrared radiation were measured using seven individual radiometers. Three up-looking radiometers werer mounted on a newly developed stabilized platform, keeping the instruments level up to aircraft pitch and roll angles of approximately 10(exp 0). This resulted in unprecedented continuous vertical profiles of radiative fluxes, which we will compare to modeled fluxes using the aforementioned data as input.

Schmid, B.↗

Parameterization of Cloud Droplet Formation in Global Climate Models

An aerosol activation parameterization has been developed based on a generalized representation of aerosol size and composition within the framework of an ascending adiabatic parcel; this allows for parameterizing the activation of chemically complex aerosol with an arbitrary size distribution and mixing state. The new parameterization introduces the concept of"population splitting", in which the cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) that form droplets are treated as two separate populations; those that have a size close to their critical diameter and those that do not.Explicit consideration of kinetic limitations of droplet growth is introduced. Our treatment of the activation process unravels much of its complexity. As a result of this, a substantial number of conditions of droplet formation can be treated completely free of empirical information or correlations; there are, however, some conditions of droplet activation for which an empirically derived correlation is utilized. Predictions of the parameterization are compared against extensive cloud parcel model simu;lations for a variety of aerosol activation conditions that cover a wide range of chemical variability and CCN concentrations. The parameterization tracks the parcel model simulations closely and robustly. The parameterization presented here is intended to allow for a comprehensive assessment of the aerosol indirect effect in general circulation models.

Nenes, A.↗

EARTHDATA PUB: A Data Publication Workflow Solution for NASA’s EOSDIS

Each NASA Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) faces the challenge of dealing with an increasingly diverse number of publishable data products from diverse data producers. Data producers, on the other hand, may experience pain points when interacting with the EOSDIS for the first time or when publishing different data at different DAACs. As a result, there has been a growing need to develop a common software framework that serves as a common interface for data producers, rigorously defines the data publication procedure for DAAC staff, facilitates the management of various data publication processes, and tracks the progress of data publication. This software should also account for the different configurations at different DAACs. Currently, two primary data publication workflow and tracking tools exist in operation at the EOSDIS: Semi-Automated ingest System (SAuS) and Data Publication workflow Portal (DAPPeR). However, neither tool is cloud-ready. Automated data processing could be managed by Cumulus, an EOSDIS cloud-based data ingest, archive and management system. However, Cumulus does not support manual tasks or on-premise implementations. We propose to develop the Earthdata Publication Minimum Viable Product (Earthdata Pub MVP) -- a cloud-hosted solution that works with both cloud and on-premise systems and implements the communications and exchange requirements generated by the Earthdata Pub information architecture team.

Rice, Justin L.↗

Intercalibration of Meteorological Satellite Imagers Using VIRS, ATSR-2 and MODIS

Global retrievals of surface, cloud and radiative properties from geostationary (GEO) and low-Earth-orbit (LEO) meteorological satellites require accurate calibration of their imagers. An accurate and consistent calibration increases the reliability and effectiveness of long-term monitoring of climate changes. More emphasis has been placed on calibrating the thermal infrared (IR) channel. The lack of on-board calibration in the visible (VIS) channel has prompted efforts to characterize the degradation of the VIS sensor using vicarious post-launch calibration techniques that measure bright stable desert targets from space and aircraft or using satellite-to-satellite normalizations. While such inter-calibrations are valuable and widely used, the lack of a well-characterized calibration reference source and the lengthy time delay between updates have minimized their effectiveness in climate monitoring. To address these shortcomings, this paper examines the use of research satellite imagers to provide stable calibration references for the visible (VIS, approximately 0.65 micrometers) channels and develops a method for rapid intercalibration of existing satellites. Calibration coefficients are determined for the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES-8 to GOES-10), Geostationary Meteorological Satellite (GMS-5), Meteosat-7, and the NOAA-14 Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). As a reference calibration source, this technique uses the self-calibrating sensors on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Visible Infrared Radiometers (VIRS) or the ERS-2 Along Track Scanning Radiometer (ATSR-2). GOES-8 is calibrated with VIRS and then its calibration is transferred to other GEO or LEO satellites. The absolute accuracy of this technique relies on the assumption that the on-board calibration is stable and well maintained. Minnis et al. assessed the VIRS calibration using comparisons with other self-calibrated satellite sensors including the broadband Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) scanners, the ERS-2 Along Track Scanning Radiometer (ATSR-2), and the Terra Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS). Thus, the VIRS data can be confidently used as the initial reference source.

Nguyen, Louis↗

Detection of rotating thunderstorms using satellite imagery

In the case of the Carolina tornadoes, researchers prepared visible and IR GOES imagery covering the period 2000 Z when the storm entered South Carolina from Georgia until it exited North Carolina at 0200 Z into Virginia. The GOES IR imagery clearly demonstrated that this storm was imbedded in a continuously propagating mesolow with a well defined cold dome. The ground damage track paralleled exactly with the cold dome throughout the storm's life across the Carolinas. There were no advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHRR) data during the period to allow researchers to inspect the cloud top for warm temperature anomalies. The Carolina storm did exhibit rightward deviating outflow which was oriented about 60 degrees to the 300 mb streamlines. The tornadoes of April 27, 1984 were part of a tornado producing cold front which stretched from Oklahoma to Minnesota. As the front moved eastward it touched off numerous tornadoes in eastern Wisconsin. GOES imagery for this data was prepared and it was strikingly clear that all along the North-South oriented squall line, the individual tunderstorms had cirrus plumes which had remarkable right deviation to the upper air flow. Unlike the Carolina long track supercell cell-mesolow system, these storms were isolated individual thunderstorms which touched off at least 16 tornadoes in eastern Wisconsin stretching from the Milwaukee area on the south to Vilas County in the north. The monster tornado of June 8, 1984 which leveled 90 percent of the village of Barneveld, Wisconsin and killed 9 persons is also discussed.

Anderson, C. E.↗

Investigating Aerosol and Meteorological Influences on Convective Clouds in Houston, Texas, during the TRACER/ESCAPE Field Campaigns

Aerosols serve as cloud condensation nuclei, shaping the microphysical properties of cloud droplets. Aerosol effects on convective clouds are complex and remain controversial. The debate centers around the process of aerosol-induced invigoration of deep convection, a phenomenon that could significantly affect convective cloud properties but lacks robust evidence due to methodological limitations in observational approaches and questions about the robustness of modeling studies. Resolving these discrepancies is crucial for understanding how aerosols affect the atmosphere. Here, this study examines the effects of meteorological and aerosol parameters in a weakly synoptic-driven convective environment, where the influence of aerosols may be more pronounced and observable. Daily atmospheric soundings and aerosol concentrations from several ground instruments collected during the summer of 2022 in Houston, Texas, as part of the Tracking Aerosol Convection interactions Experiment (TRACER) and Experiment of Sea Breeze Convection, Aerosols, Precipitation, and Environment (ESCAPE) field campaigns are analyzed. Statistical learning methods are applied to uncover the complex relationships between aerosols, meteorology, and convective cloud characteristics, such as cell area and echo-top height. The findings reveal that higher aerosol concentrations are associated with narrower convective cells, which we argue contradicts the idea of stronger convection with increased aerosol loading. However, once the data are clustered by the synoptic environment, the relationship between aerosol loading and convective cell area diminishes, indicating that the covariablity between synoptic-scale weather patterns, local thermodynamics, and aerosol loading makes it challenging to draw definitive conclusions about the specific impacts of aerosols on convective cloud properties.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Electron microscopy of irradiation effects in space

The paper discusses several discoveries made in the study of lunar material. In the examination of the effects of solar wind implantations the topics covered include (1) solar wind radiation damage parameters and their aging characteristics, (2) the theory of the ancient solar wind, (3) the solar wind sputtering erosion rate, (4) the physicochemical properties of amorphous coatings, (5) maturity indexes and the macroscopic properties of the lunar regolith, (6) solar wind gas bubbles, (7) the composition of very heavy nuclei in the contemporary solar wind, and (8) track aging processes. Conclusions are drawn from the results about other extraterrestrial features such as the parent bodies of the meteorites, early solar nebulas, and interstellar clouds.

Maurette, M.↗

Land use/vegetation mapping in reservoir management. Merrimack River basin

This report consists of an analysis of: ERTS-1 Multispectral Scanner imagery obtained 10 August 1973; Skylab 3 S190A and S190B photography, track 29, taken 21 September 1973; and RB-57 high-altitude aircraft photography acquired 26 September 1973. These data products were acquired on three cloud-free days within a 47-day period. The objectives of this study were: (1) to make quantitative comparisons between high-altitude aircraft photography and satellite imagery, and (2) to demonstrate the extent to which high resolution (S190A and B) space-acquired data can be used for land use/vegetation mapping and management of drainage basins.

Mckim, H. L.↗

Laser Doppler velocimeter aerial spray measurements

An experimental research program for measuring the location, spatial extent, and relative concentration of airborne spray clouds generated by agricultural aircraft is described. The measurements were conducted with a ground-based laser Doppler velocimeter. The remote sensing instrumentation, experimental tests, and the results of the flight tests are discussed. The cross section of the aerial spray cloud and the observed location, extent, and relative concentration of the airborne particulates are presented. It is feasible to use a mobile laser Doppler velocimeter to track and monitor the transport and dispersion of aerial spray generated by an agricultural aircraft.

Zalay, A. D.↗

Imaging infrared: Scene simulation, modeling, and real image tracking; Proceedings of the Meeting, Orlando, FL, Mar. 30, 31, 1989

Various papers on scene simulation, modeling, and real image tracking using IR imaging are presented. Individual topics addressed include: tactical IR scene generator, dynamic FLIR simulation in flight training research, high-speed dynamic scene simulation in UV to IR spectra, development of an IR sensor calibration facility, IR celestial background scene description, transmission measurement of optical components at cryogenic temperatures, diffraction model for a point-source generator, silhouette-based tracking for tactical IR systems, use of knowledge in electrooptical trackers, detection and classification of target formations in IR image sequences, SMPRAD: simplified three-dimensional cloud radiance model, IR target generator, recent advances in testing of thermal imagers, generic IR system models with dynamic image generation, modeling realistic target acquisition using IR sensors in multiple-observer scenarios, and novel concept of scene generation and comprehensive dynamic sensor test.

Triplett, Milton J.↗

Evaluating the design of an Earth Radiation Budget Instrument with systen simulations. Part 1: Instantaneous estimates

A set of system simulations has been performed to evaluate candidate scanner designs for an Earth Radiation Budget Instrument (ERBI) for the Earth Observing System (EOS) of the late 1990s. Five different instruments are considered: (1) the Active Cavity Array (ACA), (2) the Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy System-Instrument (CERES-I), (3) the Conically Scanning Radiometer (CSR), (4) the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment Cross-Track Scanner (ERBE), and (5) the Nimbus-7 Biaxial Scanner (N7). Errors in instantaneous, top-of-the-atmosphere (TOA) satellite flux estimates are assumed to arise from two measurement problems: the sampling of space over a given geographic domain, and sampling in angle about a given spatial location. When angular sampling errors vanish due to the application of correct angular dependence models (ADMs) during inversion, the accuracy of each scanner design is determined by the instrument's ability to map the TOA radiance field in a uniform manner. In this regard, the instruments containing a cross-track scanning component (CERES-I and ERBE) do best. As errors in ADMs are encountered, cross-track instruments incur angular sampling errors more rapidly than biaxial instruments (N7, ACA, and CSR) and eventually overtake the biaxial designs in their total error amounts. A latitude bias (north-south error gradient) in the ADM error of cross-track instruments also exists. This would be objectionable when ADM errors are systematic over large areas of the globe. For instantaneous errors, however, cross-track scanners outperform biaxial or conical scanners for 2.5 deg latitude x 2.5 deg longitude target areas, providing that the ADM error is less than or equal to 30%. A key issue is the amount of systematic ADM error (departures from the mean models) that is present at the 2.5 deg resolution of the ERBE target areas. If this error is less than 30%, then the CERES-I, ERBE, and CSR, in order of increasing error, provide the most accurate instantaneous flux estimates, within 2-3 W/sq m of each other in reflected shortwave flux. The magnitude of this error is near the 10 W/sq m accuracy requirement of the user community. Longwave flux errors have been found to have the same space and time characteristics as errors in shortwave radiation, but only about 25% as large.

Stowe, Larry↗

Monitoring CO2 sources and sinks from space : the Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) Mission

NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) will make the first space-based measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) with the precision, resolution, and coverage needed to characterize the geographic distribution of CO2 sources and sinks and quantify their variability over the seasonal cycle. OCO is currently scheduled for launch in 2008. The observatory will carry a single instrument that incorporates three high-resolution grating spectrometers designed to measure the near-infrared absorption by CO2 and molecular oxygen (O2) in reflected sunlight. OCO will fly 12 minutes ahead of the EOS Aqua platform in the Earth Observing System (EOS) Afternoon Constellation (A-Train). The in-strument will collect 12 to 24 soundings per second as the Observatory moves along its orbit track on the day side of the Earth. A small sampling footprint (<3 km2 at nadir) was adopted to reduce biases in each sounding associated with clouds and aerosols and spatial variations in surface topography. A comprehensive ground-based validation program will be used to assess random errors and biases in the XCO2 product on regional to continental scales. Measurements collected by OCO will be assimilated with other environmental measurements to retrieve surface sources and sinks of CO2. This information could play an important role in monitoring the integrity of large scale CO2 sequestration projects.

carbon dioxide sources and sinks↗

Tracking the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai Eruption Stratospheric Aerosol and Trace Gas Plumes Using Machine Learning

The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai (HTHH) submarine volcano had an explosive eruption phase on January 15, 2022, that thrusted ash, gases, and water vapor through the troposphere and into the stratosphere. The stratospheric volcanic plume included aerosol precursor gases such as SO2 and H2S as well as anomalously high water vapor concentrations due to the submarine oceanic origin. With these atmospheric constituents, the sulfuric gases and water vapor formed sulfate (SO4) particles via gas-to-particle reactions and these aerosols likely increased in size due to hygroscopic growth within anomalously humid regions. Strong easterlies and gravity waves propagated the volcanic impacts throughout the stratosphere. Orbital and suborbital passive sensor retrievals detected changes in the aerosol and trace gas characteristics within the atmospheric column for cloud-free regions over the southern hemisphere. While the CALIPSO lidar can detect aerosol layers in the stratosphere, passive sensors such as MODIS retrieved the total column aerosol abundance and characteristics. Previous studies used manual tracking methods to determine volcanic plume positions and compared them to ground observations. In this study, we examine the machine learning (ML) approaches including segmentation, object detection, and object tracking to identify and track aerosol and trace gas plumes using orbital and suborbital sensor data. This ML implementation strives to provide a more systematic approach to separate total column effects from those of the stratosphere. Similar ML tracking may be useful for stratospheric impact events observed historically by CALIPSO and in the future with EarthCare and the Atmosphere Observing System (AOS) lidar-capable missions.

Rhys Leahy↗

The stellar population of the Lupus clouds

We present photometric and spectroscopic observations of the H alpha emission stars in the Lupus dark cloud complex. We estimate the effective temperatures of the stars from their spectral types and calculate the reddening towards each object from the (R-I) colors. From these data, we derive mass and age distributions for the Lupus stars using a new set of pre-main sequence evolutionar tracks. We compare the results for the Lupus stars with those for a similar population of young stellar objects in Taurus-Auriga and Chamaeleon and with the initial mass function for field stars in the solar neighborhood. From the H-R diagrams, Lupus appears to contain older stars than Taurus. The Lupus dark clouds form a greater proportion of low mass stars than the Taurus complex. Also, the proportion of low mass stars in Lupus is higher than that predicted by the Miller-Scalo initial mass function, and the lowest mass stars in Lupus are less active than similar T Tauri stars in other regions.

Hughes, Joanne↗

Satellite-Based Tracking of Reservoir Operations for Flood Management During the 2018 Extreme Weather Event in Kerala, India

Uncoordinated management of hydropower dams during extreme and unexpected precipitation events in mountainous terrain can have disastrous consequences due to the competing nature of flood control and hydropower generation. Numerous cases of flooding events that have been exacerbated due to insufficient storage conditions in hydropower dams have been reported worldwide. There is a need for a scalable and publicly accessible monitoring framework that is capable of providing reliable, near-real time, and transparent reservoir operations data. A fully satellite-based framework is the most viable solution to build such capability. The Reservoir Assessment Tool (RAT 3.0), which utilizes high frequency remote sensing-based surface area and reservoir storage estimation alongside hydrological modelled inflow was applied here for the 2018 Kerala floods in India as a globally representative case for a mountainous river basin with high precipitation and hydropower dams. Application of satellite-based RAT 3.0 in monitoring the state of 19 reservoirs in Kerala during the flood event showed very promising results. In general, RAT 3.0, using satellite remote sensing, was found to be able to capture the temporal trend of the reservoir storage and pinpoint the sudden shift in filling or release decisions made by the dam operator. Inflow modelling in such regions was found to require careful calibration with identification of reservoirs that are heavily regulated being a critical aspect. The perennial high cloud cover in such regions necessitate and highlights the central role played by microwave and radar-based satellite sensors, such as the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission, in tracking reservoir state. An operational version of RAT 3.0 for stakeholder agencies tailored for hydropower dams operating in high precipitation and mountainous environments is a real-world outcome of this study.

Sarath Suresh↗

Climate Impacts of Convective Cloud Microphysics in NCAR CAM5

Here we improved the treatments of convective cloud microphysics in the NCAR Community Atmosphere Model version 5.3 (CAM5.3) by 1) implementing new terminal velocity parameterizations for convective ice and snow particles, 2) adding graupel microphysics, 3) considering convective snow detrainment, and 4) enhancing rain initiation and generation rate in warm clouds. Furthermore, we evaluated the impacts of improved microphysics on simulated global climate, focusing on simulated cloud radiative forcing, graupel microphysics, convective cloud ice amount, and tropical precipitation. Compared to CAM5.3 with the default convective microphysics, the too-strong cloud shortwave radiative forcing due primarily to excessive convective cloud liquid is largely alleviated over the tropics and midlatitudes after rain initiation and generation rate is enhanced, in better agreement with the CERES-EBAF estimates. Geographic distributions of graupel occurrence are reasonably simulated over continents; whereas the graupel occurrence remains highly uncertain over the oceanic storm-track regions. When evaluated against the CloudSat–CALIPSO estimates, the overestimation of convective ice mass is alleviated with the improved convective ice microphysics, among which adding graupel microphysics and the accompanying increase in hydrometeor fall speed play the most important role. The probability distribution function (PDF) of rainfall intensity is sensitive to warm rain processes in convective clouds, and enhancement in warm rain production shifts the PDF toward heavier precipitation, which agrees better with the TRMM observations. Common biases of overestimating the light rain frequency and underestimating the heavy rain frequency in GCMs are mitigated.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗