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Cloud Occurrence at Arctic Atmospheric Observatories

Explore the occurrence, vertical distribution, and classification of cloud types at Arctic atmospheric observatories using radar, lidar, and surface observations. Findings show high annual cloud fraction and remarkable similarities across sites.

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Cloud Occurrence at Arctic Atmospheric Observatories

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  1. Cloud Occurrence at Arctic Atmospheric Observatories Matthew Shupe, Taneil Uttal, Daniel Wolfe, David Welsh Special Thanks for Ny’Alesund MPL Data: Masataka Shiobara, James Campbell AMS Polar Meteorology and Oceanography 2007

  2. Arctic Cloud Stations Barrow SHEBA Tiksi Radar Lidar Eureka Alert An Example Station Ny’Alesund Summit

  3. Observatories

  4. Data Processing Considerations • Use a combination of cloud radar and lidar, depending on station • “Cloud fraction” is from the perspective of vertically-pointing, surface-based instruments • All but SHEBA must be considered preliminary in nature, more detailed multi-instrument analyses will follow

  5. Total Cloud Fraction Radar Lidar Surface observations • Very cloudy in general at all stations (~75% total) • Summer/Fall maximum?

  6. Vertical Distribution Radar Lidar Bimodal Dist’n in Vertical Lots of Low-level Clouds

  7. Annual and Vertical Distribution

  8. Cloud Type Classification • Instruments: radar, lidar, microwave radiometer, radiosonde. • Manually classified. Automated system has been developed but not yet applied to all observations at all sites. • 1 year of data at SHEBA and 7 years at Barrow.

  9. Annual Cycles of Cloud Type • Mixed-phase clouds: Maxima in transition seasons. • Similar trends and magnitudes between SHEBA and Barrow

  10. Occurrence of Cloud Liquid Liquid is present throughout the year more than half of the time!

  11. Vertical Distributions of Cloud Type • Remarkable similarities • Slightly different balance at surface.

  12. Annual & Vertical Dist’n of Type

  13. Conclusions • High annual fraction: ~75% • Remarkable similarities in vertical. • Similar dist’n of phase for W. Arctic sites. • Liquid is frequent (and important!) Future Work • Radar-lidar combination at all sites. • Classification work at all sites using new algorithm. • More detailed analysis of boundaries Thank You.

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