Articles | Volume 13, issue 12
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-6901-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-6901-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
18 Dec 2020
Research article |
| 18 Dec 2020
| 18 Dec 2020
Determining cloud thermodynamic phase from the polarized Micro Pulse Lidar
Jasper R. Lewis
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology, University of Maryland
Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
James R. Campbell
Naval Research Laboratory, Monterey, California, USA
Sebastian A. Stewart
Science Systems and Applications, Inc., Lanham, Maryland, USA
Ivy Tan
McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Ellsworth J. Welton
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
Simone Lolli
CNR-IMAA, Istituto di Metodologie per l'Analisi Ambientale, Tito
Scalo, Italy
Related authors
Simone Lolli, Erica K. Dolinar, Jasper R. Lewis, Andreu Salcedo-Bosch, James R. Campbell, and Ellsworth J. Welton
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1237, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1237, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Clouds strongly influence Earth's climate by changing how sunlight is reflected or absorbed. We studied thin, high-altitude clouds using radar-laser measurements collected over twenty years at NASA GSFC. Our findings show these clouds increasingly trap heat, partly because of shrinking snow and ice cover. This trend could further accelerate warming locally, underlining the need for accurate cloud observations to improve climate forecasts and strategies to respond to climate change.
Cristina Gil-Díaz, Michäel Sicard, Adolfo Comerón, Daniel Camilo Fortunato dos Santos Oliveira, Constantino Muñoz-Porcar, Alejandro Rodríguez-Gómez, Jasper R. Lewis, Ellsworth J. Welton, and Simone Lolli
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 1197–1216, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-1197-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-1197-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
In this paper, a statistical study of cirrus geometrical and optical properties based on 4 years of continuous ground-based lidar measurements with the Barcelona (Spain) Micro Pulse Lidar (MPL) is analysed. The cloud optical depth, effective column lidar ratio and linear cloud depolarisation ratio have been calculated by a new approach to the two-way transmittance method, which is valid for both ground-based and spaceborne lidar systems. Their associated errors are also provided.
Tao Shi, Yuanjian Yang, Gaopeng Lu, Zuofang Zheng, Yucheng Zi, Ye Tian, Lei Liu, and Simone Lolli
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 9219–9234, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-9219-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-9219-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The city significantly influences thunderstorm and lightning activity, yet the potential mechanisms remain largely unexplored. Our study has revealed that both city size and building density play pivotal roles in modulating thunderstorm and lightning activity. This research not only deepens our understanding of urban meteorology but also lays an important foundation for developing accurate and targeted urban thunderstorm risk prediction models.
Travis Toth, Gregory Schuster, Marian Clayton, Zhujun Li, David Painemal, Sharon Rodier, Jayanta Kar, Tyler Thorsen, Richard Ferrare, Mark Vaughan, Jason Tackett, Huisheng Bian, Mian Chin, Anne Garnier, Ellsworth Welton, Robert Ryan, Charles Trepte, and David Winker
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2832, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2832, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
NASA’s CALIPSO satellite mission observed aerosols (airborne particles) globally from 2006 to 2023. Its final data products update improves its aerosol optical parameters over oceans by adjusting for regional and seasonal differences in a new measurement-model synergistic approach. This results in a more realistic aerosol characterization, specifically near coastlines (where sea salt mixes with pollution), with potential impacts to future studies of science applications (e.g., climate effects).
África Barreto, Francisco Quirós, Omaira E. García, Jorge Pereda-de-Pablo, Daniel González-Fernández, Andrés Bedoya-Velásquez, Michael Sicard, Carmen Córdoba-Jabonero, Marco Iarlori, Vincenzo Rizi, Nickolay Krotkov, Simon Carn, Reijo Roininen, Antonio J. Molina-Arias, A. Fernando Almansa, Óscar Álvarez-Losada, Carla Aramo, Juan José Bustos, Romain Ceolato, Adolfo Comerón, Alicia Felpeto, Rosa D. García, Pablo González-Sicilia, Yenny González, Pascal Hedelt, Miguel Hernández, María-Ángeles López-Cayuela, Diego Loyola, Stavros Meletlidis, Constantino Muñoz-Porcar, Ermanno Pietropaolo, Ramón Ramos, Alejandro Rodríguez-Gómez, Roberto Román, Pedro M. Romero-Campos, Martin Stuefer, Carlos Toledano, and Elsworth Welton
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3164, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3164, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Measurement Techniques (AMT).
Short summary
Short summary
This manuscript describes the instrumental coverage deployed during the Tajogaite eruption (19 September–25 December 2021) by the Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN), the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), and other Spanish members of ACTRIS (Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure) to monitor its atmospheric impact. Two complementary methods provide consistent plume height data for future operational surveillance.
Jiseob Kim, Pavlos Kollias, Bernat Puigdomènech Treserras, Alessandro Battaglia, and Ivy Tan
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2697, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2697, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The EarthCARE satellite’s Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR) can now measure how fast particles fall within clouds from space. In this study, we compared these new satellite measurements with ground-based radar data and found that, after proper corrections, the CPR gives reliable results, especially in ice clouds. This means scientists can confidently use EarthCARE data to better understand clouds and improve weather and climate predictions.
Tao Shi, Yuanjian Yang, Lian Zong, Min Guo, Ping Qi, and Simone Lolli
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 4989–5007, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4989-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4989-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Our study explored the daily temperature patterns in urban areas of the Yangtze River Delta, focusing on how weather and human activities impact these patterns. We found that temperatures were higher at night, and weather patterns had a bigger impact during the day, while human activities mattered more at night. This helps us understand and address urban overheating.
Yenny González, María F. Sánchez-Barrero, Ioana Popovici, África Barreto, Stephane Victori, Ellsworth J. Welton, Rosa D. García, Pablo G. Sicilia, Fernando A. Almansa, Carlos Torres, and Philippe Goloub
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 1885–1908, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1885-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1885-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We characterize the optical properties of various aerosols using a compact dual-wavelength depolarization lidar (CIMEL CE376) at 532 and 808 nm. Through a modified two-wavelength Klett inversion method, we assess the vertical distribution and temporal evolution of Saharan dust, volcanic aerosols and wildfire smoke in the subtropical North Atlantic from August 2021 to August 2023. The study confirms the CE376 lidar's effectiveness in monitoring and characterizing atmospheric aerosols over time.
Tianwen Wei, Mengya Wang, Kenan Wu, Jinlong Yuan, Haiyun Xia, and Simone Lolli
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 1841–1857, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1841-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1841-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study analyzes three years of wind lidar measurements to explore the dynamics of the urban planetary boundary layer in Hefei, China. Results reveal that nocturnal low-level jets are most frequent in spring and intensify in summer, significantly enhancing turbulence and shear near the surface, particularly at night. Additionally, cloud cover raises the mixing layer height by approximately 100 m at night due to the greenhouse effect but reduces it by up to 200 m in the afternoon.
Bo Zheng, Jason Blake Cohen, Lingxiao Lu, Wei Hu, Pravash Tiwari, Simone Lolli, Andrea Garzelli, Hui Su, and Kai Qin
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1446, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1446, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study provides TROPOMI with a new methane emission estimation method that can accurately identify emission sources. Our results generate non-negative emission datasets using objective selection and filtering methods. The results include lower minimum emission thresholds for all power grids and fewer false positives. The new method provides more robust emission quantification in the face of data uncertainty, going beyond traditional plume identification and background subtraction.
Simone Lolli, Erica K. Dolinar, Jasper R. Lewis, Andreu Salcedo-Bosch, James R. Campbell, and Ellsworth J. Welton
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1237, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1237, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Clouds strongly influence Earth's climate by changing how sunlight is reflected or absorbed. We studied thin, high-altitude clouds using radar-laser measurements collected over twenty years at NASA GSFC. Our findings show these clouds increasingly trap heat, partly because of shrinking snow and ice cover. This trend could further accelerate warming locally, underlining the need for accurate cloud observations to improve climate forecasts and strategies to respond to climate change.
Fengjiao Chen, Yuanjian Yang, Lu Yu, Yang Li, Weiguang Liu, Yan Liu, and Simone Lolli
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 1587–1601, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1587-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1587-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The microphysical mechanisms of precipitation responsible for the varied impacts of aerosol particles on shallow precipitation remain unclear. This study reveals that coarse aerosol particles invigorate shallow rainfall through enhanced coalescence processes, whereas fine aerosol particles suppress shallow rainfall through intensified microphysical breaks. These impacts are independent of thermodynamic environments but are more significant in low-humidity conditions.
Tao Shi, Yuanjian Yang, Ping Qi, and Simone Lolli
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 12807–12822, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12807-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12807-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This paper explored the formation mechanisms of the amplified canopy urban heat island intensity (ΔCUHII) during heat wave (HW) periods in the megacity of Beijing from the perspectives of mountain–valley breeze and urban morphology. During the mountain breeze phase, high-rise buildings with lower sky view factors (SVFs) had a pronounced effect on the ΔCUHII. During the valley breeze phase, high-rise buildings exerted a dual influence on the ΔCUHII.
Anton Lopatin, Oleg Dubovik, Georgiy Stenchikov, Ellsworth J. Welton, Illia Shevchenko, David Fuertes, Marcos Herreras-Giralda, Tatsiana Lapyonok, and Alexander Smirnov
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 4445–4470, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-4445-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-4445-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We compare aerosol properties over the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology campus using Generalized Retrieval of Aerosol and Surface Properties (GRASP) and the Micro-Pulse Lidar Network (MPLNET). We focus on the impact of different aerosol retrieval assumptions on daytime and nighttime retrievals and analyze seasonal variability in aerosol properties, aiding in understanding aerosol behavior and improving retrieval. Our work has implications for climate and public health.
Cristina Gil-Díaz, Michäel Sicard, Adolfo Comerón, Daniel Camilo Fortunato dos Santos Oliveira, Constantino Muñoz-Porcar, Alejandro Rodríguez-Gómez, Jasper R. Lewis, Ellsworth J. Welton, and Simone Lolli
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 1197–1216, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-1197-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-1197-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
In this paper, a statistical study of cirrus geometrical and optical properties based on 4 years of continuous ground-based lidar measurements with the Barcelona (Spain) Micro Pulse Lidar (MPL) is analysed. The cloud optical depth, effective column lidar ratio and linear cloud depolarisation ratio have been calculated by a new approach to the two-way transmittance method, which is valid for both ground-based and spaceborne lidar systems. Their associated errors are also provided.
Xiaoxia Shang, Antti Lipponen, Maria Filioglou, Anu-Maija Sundström, Mark Parrington, Virginie Buchard, Anton S. Darmenov, Ellsworth J. Welton, Eleni Marinou, Vassilis Amiridis, Michael Sicard, Alejandro Rodríguez-Gómez, Mika Komppula, and Tero Mielonen
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 1329–1344, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-1329-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-1329-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
In June 2019, smoke particles from a Canadian wildfire event were transported to Europe. The long-range-transported smoke plumes were monitored with a spaceborne lidar and reanalysis models. Based on the aerosol mass concentrations estimated from the observations, the reanalysis models had difficulties in reproducing the amount and location of the smoke aerosols during the transport event. Consequently, more spaceborne lidar missions are needed for reliable monitoring of aerosol plumes.
Simone Lolli, Michaël Sicard, Francesco Amato, Adolfo Comeron, Cristina Gíl-Diaz, Tony C. Landi, Constantino Munoz-Porcar, Daniel Oliveira, Federico Dios Otin, Francesc Rocadenbosch, Alejandro Rodriguez-Gomez, Andrés Alastuey, Xavier Querol, and Cristina Reche
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 12887–12906, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-12887-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-12887-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We evaluated the long-term trends and seasonal variability of the vertically resolved aerosol properties over the past 17 years in Barcelona. Results shows that air quality is improved, with a consistent drop in PM concentrations at the surface, as well as the column aerosol optical depth. The results also show that natural dust outbreaks are more likely in summer, with aerosols reaching an altitude of 5 km, while in winter, aerosols decay as an exponential with a scale height of 600 m.
Peng Xian, Jianglong Zhang, Norm T. O'Neill, Travis D. Toth, Blake Sorenson, Peter R. Colarco, Zak Kipling, Edward J. Hyer, James R. Campbell, Jeffrey S. Reid, and Keyvan Ranjbar
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 9915–9947, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-9915-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-9915-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The study provides baseline Arctic spring and summertime aerosol optical depth climatology, trend, and extreme event statistics from 2003 to 2019 using a combination of aerosol reanalyses, remote sensing, and ground observations. Biomass burning smoke has an overwhelming contribution to black carbon (an efficient climate forcer) compared to anthropogenic sources. Burning's large interannual variability and increasing summer trend have important implications for the Arctic climate.
Peng Xian, Jianglong Zhang, Norm T. O'Neill, Jeffrey S. Reid, Travis D. Toth, Blake Sorenson, Edward J. Hyer, James R. Campbell, and Keyvan Ranjbar
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 9949–9967, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-9949-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-9949-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The study provides a baseline Arctic spring and summertime aerosol optical depth climatology, trend, and extreme event statistics from 2003 to 2019 using a combination of aerosol reanalyses, remote sensing, and ground observations. Biomass burning smoke has an overwhelming contribution to black carbon (an efficient climate forcer) compared to anthropogenic sources. Burning's large interannual variability and increasing summer trend have important implications for the Arctic climate.
Lian Zong, Yuanjian Yang, Haiyun Xia, Meng Gao, Zhaobin Sun, Zuofang Zheng, Xianxiang Li, Guicai Ning, Yubin Li, and Simone Lolli
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 6523–6538, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-6523-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-6523-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Heatwaves (HWs) paired with higher ozone (O3) concentration at surface level pose a serious threat to human health. Taking Beijing as an example, three unfavorable synoptic weather patterns were identified to dominate the compound HW and O3 pollution events. Under the synergistic stress of HWs and O3 pollution, public mortality risk increased, and synoptic patterns and urbanization enhanced the compound risk of events in Beijing by 33.09 % and 18.95 %, respectively.
Martin J. Osborne, Johannes de Leeuw, Claire Witham, Anja Schmidt, Frances Beckett, Nina Kristiansen, Joelle Buxmann, Cameron Saint, Ellsworth J. Welton, Javier Fochesatto, Ana R. Gomes, Ulrich Bundke, Andreas Petzold, Franco Marenco, and Jim Haywood
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 2975–2997, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-2975-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-2975-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Using the Met Office NAME dispersion model, supported by satellite- and ground-based remote-sensing observations, we describe the dispersion of aerosols from the 2019 Raikoke eruption and the concurrent wildfires in Alberta Canada. We show how the synergy of dispersion modelling and multiple observation sources allowed observers in the London VAAC to arrive at a more complete picture of the aerosol loading at altitudes commonly used by aviation.
Gemine Vivone, Giuseppe D'Amico, Donato Summa, Simone Lolli, Aldo Amodeo, Daniele Bortoli, and Gelsomina Pappalardo
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 4249–4265, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-4249-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-4249-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We developed a methodology to retrieve the atmospheric boundary layer height from elastic and multi-wavelength lidar observations that uses a new approach based on morphological image processing techniques. The intercomparison with other state-of-the-art algorithms shows on average 30 % improved performance. The algorithm also shows excellent performance with respect to the running time, i.e., just few seconds to execute the whole signal processing chain over 72 h of continuous measurements.
Yan Yu, Olga V. Kalashnikova, Michael J. Garay, Huikyo Lee, Myungje Choi, Gregory S. Okin, John E. Yorks, James R. Campbell, and Jared Marquis
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 1427–1447, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-1427-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-1427-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Given the current uncertainties in the simulated diurnal variability of global dust mobilization and concentration, observational characterization of the variations in dust mobilization and concentration will provide a valuable benchmark for evaluating and constraining such model simulations. The current study investigates the diurnal cycle of dust loading across the global tropics, subtropics, and mid-latitudes by analyzing aerosol observations from the International Space Station.
Jianglong Zhang, Robert J. D. Spurr, Jeffrey S. Reid, Peng Xian, Peter R. Colarco, James R. Campbell, Edward J. Hyer, and Nancy L. Baker
Geosci. Model Dev., 14, 27–42, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-27-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-27-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
A first-of-its-kind scheme has been developed for assimilating Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) aerosol index (AI) measurements into the Naval Aerosol Analysis and Predictive System. Improvements in model simulations demonstrate the utility of OMI AI data assimilation for improving the accuracy of aerosol model analysis over cloudy regions and bright surfaces. This study can be considered one of the first attempts at direct radiance assimilation in the UV spectrum for aerosol analyses.
Cited articles
Campbell, J. R. and Sassen, K.: Polar stratospheric clouds at the South
Pole from 5 years of continuous lidar data: Macrophysical, optical and
thermodynamic properties, J. Geophys. Res., 113, D20204,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2007JD009680, 2008.
Campbell, J. R., Hlavka, D. L., Welton, E. J., Flynn, C. J., Turner, D. D.,
Spinhirne, J. D., Scott, V. S., and Hwang, I. H.: Full-time, eye-safe cloud
and aerosol lidar observation at Atmosphere Radiation Measurement program
sites: Instrument and data processing, J. Atmos. Ocean. Tech., 19,
431–442, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0426(2002)019<0431:FTESCA>2.0.CO;2, 2002.
Campbell, J. R., Welton, E. J., Spinhirne, J. D., Ji, Q., Tsay, S.-C.,
Piketh, S. J., Barenbrug, M., and Holben, B. N.: Micropulse lidar
observations of tropospheric aerosols over northeastern South Africa during
the ARREX and SAFARI 2000 dry season experiments, J. Geophys. Res.,
108, 8497, https://doi.org/10.1029/2002JD002563, 2003.
Campbell, J. R., Vaughan, M. A., Oo, M., Holz, R. E., Lewis, J. R., and Welton, E. J.: Distinguishing cirrus cloud presence in autonomous lidar measurements, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 8, 435–449, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-435-2015, 2015.
Campbell, J. R., Lolli, S., Lewis, J. R., Gu, Y., and Welton, E. J.: Daytime
cirrus cloud top-of-atmosphere radiative forcing properties at a midlatitude
site and their global consequence, J. Appl. Meteorol. Clim., 55,
1667–1679, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-15-0217.1, 2016.
Campbell, J. R., Dolinar, E. K., Lolli, S., Fochesatto, G. J., Gu, Y.,
Lewis, J. R., Marquis, J. W., McHardy, T. M., Ryglicki, D. R., and Welton,
E. J.: Cirrus cloud top-of-the-atmosphere net daytime forcing in the Alaskan
subarctic from ground-based MPLNET monitoring, J. Appl. Meteorol. Clim., 99, 27–32,
https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-20-0077.1, 2020.
Choi, Y.-S., Lindzen, R. S., Ho, C.-H., and Kim, J.: Space observations of
cold-cloud phase change, P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 107, 11211–11216,
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1006241107, 2010.
Cohen, A., Neumann, J., and Low, W.: An Experimental Determination of the
Depolarization of Scattered Laser Light by Atmospheric Air, J. Appl.
Meteorol., 8, 952–954, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0450(1969)008<0952:AEDOTD>2.0.CO;2, 1969.
Coopman, Q., Riedi, J., Zeng, S., and Garrett, T. J.: Space-Based Analysis
of the Cloud Thermodynamic Phase Transition for Varying Microphysical and
Meteorological Regimes, Geophys. Res. Lett., 47, e2020GL087122,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL087122, 2020.
Costa, A., Meyer, J., Afchine, A., Luebke, A., Günther, G., Dorsey, J. R., Gallagher, M. W., Ehrlich, A., Wendisch, M., Baumgardner, D., Wex, H., and Krämer, M.: Classification of Arctic, midlatitude and tropical clouds in the mixed-phase temperature regime, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 12219–12238, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-12219-2017, 2017.
Flynn, C. J., Mendoza, A., Zheng, Y., and Mathur, S.: Novel
polarization-sensitive micropulse lidar measurement technique, Opt. Express,
15, 2785–2790, https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.15.002785, 2007.
Furtado, K., Field, P. R., Boutle, I. A., Morcrette, C. J., and Wilkinson,
J. M.: A physically based subgrid parameterization for the production and maintenance of mixed-phase clouds in a general circulation model, J. Atmos. Sci., 73, 279–291, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-15-0021.1, 2016.
Hogan, R. J., Illingworth, A. J., O'Connor, E. J., and Poiares Baptista, J.
P. V.: Characteristics of mixed-phase clouds. II: A climatology from
ground-based lidar, Q. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 129, 2117–2134,
https://doi.org/10.1256/qj.01.209, 2003.
Holben, B. N., Eck, T. F., Slutsker, I., Tanré, D., Buis, J. P., Setzer,
A., Vermote, E., Reagan, J. A., Kaufman, Y. J., Nakajima, T., Lavenu, F.,
Jankowiak, I., and Smirnov, A.: AERONET – A federated instrument network and
data archive for aerosol characterization, Remote Sens. Environ., 66, 1–16,
1998.
Hu, Y., Liu, Z., Winker, D., Vaughan, M., Noel, V., Bissonnette, L., Roy,
G., and McGill, M.: Simple relationship between lidar multiple scattering
and depolarization for water clouds, Opt. Lett., 31, 1809–1811, 2006.
Hu, Y., Rodier, S., Xu, K., Sun, W., Huang, J., Lin, B., Zhai, P., and
Josset, D.: Occurrence, liquid water content, and fraction of supercooled water clouds from combined CALIOP/IIR/MODIS measurements, J. Geophys. Res., 115, D00H34, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JD012384, 2010.
IPCC: Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis, Contribution of
Working Group I to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change, edited by: Stocker, T. F., Qin, D., Plattner, G.-K., Tignor, M., Allen, S. K., Boschung, J., Nauels, A., Xia, Y., Bex, V., and Midgley, P. M., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New
York, NY, USA, 1535 pp., 2013.
Kanamitsu, M., Ebisuzaki, W., Woollen, J., Yang, S.-K., Hnilo, J., Fiorino,
M., and Potter, G. L.: NCEP-DOE AMIP-II Reanalysis (R-2), B. Am.
Meteorol. Soc., 83, 1631–1643, https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-83-11-1631, 2002.
Kirin, O. A., Lupyan, E. A., Uvarov, I. A., and Kramareva, L. S.: The
eruption of the volcano Raikoke June 21, 2019, Modern problems of remote
sensing of the Earth from space, 16, 303–307,
https://doi.org/10.21046/2070-7401-2019-16-3-303-307, 2019.
Korolev, A., McFarquhar, G., Field, P. R., Franklin, C., Lawson, P., Wang,
Z., Williams, E., Abel, S. J., Axisa, D., Borrmann, S., Crosier, J., Fugal,
J., Krämer, M., Lohmann, U., Schlenczek, O., Schnaiter, M., and
Wendisch, M.: Mixed-Phase Clouds: Progress and Challenges, Meteor.
Mon., 58, 5.1–5.50,
https://doi.org/10.1175/AMSMONOGRAPHS-D-17-0001.1, 2017.
Lewis, J. R., Campbell, J. R., Welton, E. J., Stewart, S. A., and Haftings, P. C.: Overview of MPLNET Version 3 Cloud Detection, J. Atmos. Ocean. Tech.,
33, 2113–2134, https://doi.org/10.1175/JTECH-D-15-0190.1, 2016.
Lewis, J. R., Campbell, J. R., Welton, E. J., and Haftings, P. C.: MPLNET L15_CLD, available at: https://mplnet.gsfc.nasa.gov/out/data, last access: 15 December 2020.
Lolli, S., Welton, E. J., and Campbell, J. R.: Evaluating Light Rain Drop
Size Estimates from Multiwavelength Micropulse Lidar Network Profiling, J.
Atmos. Ocean. Tech., 30, 2798–2807,
https://doi.org/10.1175/JTECH-D-13-00062.1, 2013.
Lolli, S., Campbell, J. R., Lewis, J. R., Gu, Y., Marquis, J. W., Chew, B.
N., Liew, S., Salinas, S. V., and Welton, E. J.: Daytime
Top-of-the-Atmosphere Cirrus Cloud Radiative Forcing Properties at
Singapore, J. Appl. Meteorol. Clim., 56, 1249–1257,
https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-16-0262.1, 2017.
Lolli, S., Vivone, G., Lewis, J. R., Sicard, M., Welton, E. J., Campbell, J.
R., Comerón, A., D'Adderio, L. P., Tokay, A., Giunta, A., and Pappalardo,
G.: Overview of the New Version 3 NASA Micro-Pulse Lidar Network (MPLNET)
Automatic Precipitation Detection Algorithm, Remote Sens., 12, 71,
https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12010071, 2020.
Matus, A. V. and L'Ecuyer, T. S.: The role of cloud phase in Earth's
radiation budget, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 122, 2559–2578,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JD025951, 2017.
Molod, A., Takacs, L., Suarez, M., Bacmeister, J., Song, I.-S., and
Eichmann, A.: The GEOS-5 atmospheric general circulation model: Mean climate
and development from MERRA to Fortuna, NASA Tech. Rep. Series on Global
Modeling and Data Assimilation, NASA/TM-2012-104606, Vol. 28, NASA Goddard
Space Flight Center, 117 pp., 2012.
Pal, S. R. and Carswell, A. I.: Polarization properties of lidar
backscattering from clouds, Appl. Opt., 12, 1530–1535, 1973.
Pal, S. R., Steinbrecht, W., and Carswell, A. I.: Automated method for lidar
determination of cloud base height and vertical extent, Appl. Opt., 31, 1488–1494, https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.31.001488, 1992.
Peterson, D. A., Fromm, M. D., Solbrig, J. E., Hyer, E. J., Surratt, M. L., and Campbell, J. R.: Detection and inventory of intense pyroconvection in
western North America using GOES-15 daytime infrared data, J. Appl. Meteorol.
Clim., 56, 471–493, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-16-0226.1, 2017.
Peterson, D. A., Campbell, J. R., Hyer, E. J., Fromm, M. D., Kablick III, G.
P., Cossuth, J. H., and DeLand, M. T.: Wildfire-driven thunderstorms cause a
volcano-like stratospheric injection of smoke, npj Clim. Atmos. Sci., 1, 30,
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-018-0039-3, 2018.
Platt, C. M., Young, S. A., Carswell, A. I., Pal, S. R., McCormick, M. P.,
Winker, D. M., DelGuasta, M., Stefanutti, L., Eberhard, W. L., Hardesty, M.,
Flamant, P. H., Valentin, R., Forgan, B., Gimmestad, G. G., Jäger, H.,
Khmelevtsov, S. S., Kolev, I., Kaprieolev, B., Lu, D., Sassen, K.,
Shamanaev, V. S., Uchino, O., Mizuno, Y., Wandinger, U., Weitkamp, C.,
Ansmann, A., and Wooldridge, C.: The Experimental Cloud Lidar Pilot Study
(ECLIPS) for cloud–radiation research, B. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 75,
1635–1654, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0477(1994)075<1635:TECLPS>2.0.CO;2, 1994.
Ramanathan, V., Cess, R. D., Harrison, E. F., Minnis, P., Barkstrom, B. R.,
Ahmad, E., and Hartmann, D.: Cloud-radiative forcing and climate: Results from the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment, Science, 243, 57–63, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.243.4887.57, 1989.
Rienecker, M. M., Suarez, M. J., Todling, R., Bacemeister, J., Takacs, L.,
Liu, H.-C., Gu, W., Sienkiewicz, M., Koster, R. D., Gelaro, R., Stanjer, I., and Nielsen, J. E.: The GEOS-5 data assimilation system – Documentation of
versions 5.0.1, 5.1.0, and 5.2.0, NASA Tech. Rep. Series on Global Modeling and Data Assimilation,
NASA/TM-2008-104606, Vol. 27, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 101 pp., 2008.
Ringer, M. A., McAvaney, B. J., Andronova, N., Buja, L. E., Esch, M.,
Ingram, W. J., Li, B., Quaas, J., Roeckner, E., Senior, C. A., Soden, B. J.,
Volodin, E. M., Webb, M. J., and Williams, K. D.: Global mean cloud
feedbacks in idealized climate change experiments, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33,
L07718, https://doi.org/10.1029/2005GL025370, 2006.
Sassen, K.: The polarization lidar technique of cloud research: A review and
current assessment, B. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 72, 1848–1866, 1991.
Sassen, K.: Polarization in lidar, in: Lidar, Springer
Series in Optical Sciences, edited by: Weitkamp, C., Vol. 102, Springer, New York, NY, USA, https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-25101-4_2, 2005.
Sassen, K. and Campbell, J. R.: A midlatitude cirrus cloud climatology from
the Facility for Atmospheric Remote Sensing. Part I: Macrophysical and
synoptic properties, J. Atmos. Sci., 58, 481–496,
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(2001)058<0481:AMCCCF>2.0.CO;2, 2001.
Sassen, K. and Petrilla, R. L.: Lidar depolarization from multiple
scattering in marine stratus clouds, Appl. Opt., 25, 1450–1459, 1986.
Schotland, R. M., Sassen, K., and Stone, R. J.: Observations by lidar of linear depolarization ratios of hydrometeors, J. Appl. Meteorol., 10, 1011–1017, 1971.
Shupe, M. D., Matrosov, S. Y., and Uttal, T.: Arctic mixed-phase cloud
properties derived from surface-based sensors at SHEBA, J. Atmos. Sci., 63,
697–711, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS3659.1, 2006.
Stephens, G. L.: Cloud feedbacks in the climate system: A critical review,
J. Climate, 18, 237–273, 2005.
Sun, Z. and Shine, K. P.: Studies of radiative properties of ice and mixed phase clouds, Q. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 120, 111–137, 1994.
Tan, I. and Storelvmo, T.: Evidence of strong contributions from mixed-phase
clouds to Arctic climate change, Geophys. Res. Lett., 46, 2894–2902,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL081871, 2019.
Tan, I., Storelvmo, T., and Choi, Y.-S.: Spaceborne lidar observations of
the ice-nucleating potential of dust, polluted dust and smoke aerosols in
mixed-phase clouds, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 119, 6653–6665,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2013JD021333, 2014.
Tan, I., Storelvmo, T., and Zelinka, M. D.: Observational constraints on
mixed-phase clouds imply higher climate sensitivity, Science, 352, 224–227, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aad5300, 2016.
Torres, O., Bhartia, P. K., Taha, G., Jethva, H., Das, S., Colarco, P.,
Krotkov, N., Omar, A., and Ahn, C.: Stratospheric injection of massive smoke
plume from Canadian boreal fires in 2017 as seen by DSCOVR-EPIC, CALIOP and
OMPS-LP observations, J. Geophys. Res., 125, e2020JD032579,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JD032579, 2020.
Wang, Z., Letu, H., Shang, H., Zhao, C., Li, J., and Ma, R.: A supercooled
water cloud detection algorithm using Himawari-8 satellite measurements, J.
Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 124, 2724–2738, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JD029784, 2019.
Weitkamp, C.: Lidar: Range-Resolved Optical Remote Sensing of the
Atmosphere, Springer, New York, USA, 2005.
Welton, E. J. and Campbell, J. R.: Micropulse lidar signals: Uncertainty
analysis, J. Atmos. Ocean. Tech., 19, 2089–2094, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0426(2002)019,2089:MLSUA.2.0.CO;2, 2002.
Welton, E. J., Campbell, J. R., Spinhirne, J. D., and Scott III, V. S.: Global
monitoring of clouds and aerosols using a network of micro-pulse lidar
systems, Lidar Remote Sensing for Industry and Environmental Monitoring, edited by: Singh, U. N., Itabe, T., and Sugimoto, N., International Society for Optical Engineering, SPIE P., 4153, 151–158, 2001.
Welton, E. J., Voss, K. J., Quinn, P. K., Flatau, P. J., Markowicz, K.,
Campbell, J. R., Spinhirne, J. D., Gordon, H. R., and Johnson, J. E.: Measurements of aerosol vertical profiles and optical
properties during INDOEX 1999 using micropulse lidars, J. Geophys. Res.,
107, 8019, https://doi.org/10.1029/2000JD000038, 2002.
Welton, E. J., Stewart, S. A., Lewis, J. R., Belcher, L. R., Campbell, J.
R., and Lolli, S.: Status of the Micro Pulse Lidar Network (MPLNET): Overview of the network and future plans, new version 3 data products, and the polarized MPL, EPJ Web Conf., 176, 09003,
https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/201817609003, 2018.
Wielicki, B. A., Cess, R. D., King, M. D., Randall, D. A., and Harrison, E.
F.: Mission to planet Earth: Role of clouds and radiation in climate, B.
Am. Meteorol. Soc., 76, 2125–2153,
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0477(1995)076<2125:MTPERO>2.0.CO;2, 1995.
Winker, D. M., Pelon, J., Coakley, J. A., Ackermann, S. A., Charlson, R. J.,
Colarco, P. R., Flamant, P., Fu, Q., Hoff, R. M., Kittaka, C., Kubar, T. L.,
Treut, H. L., McCormick, M. P., Mégie, G., Poole, L., Powell, K.,
Trepte, C., Vaughan, M. A., and Wielicki, B. A.: The CALIPSO mission: A
global 3D view of aerosols and clouds, B. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 91,
1211–1229, https://doi.org/10.1175/2010BAMS3009.1, 2010.
Yi, B., Rapp, A. D., Yang, P., Baum, B. A., and King, M. D.: A comparison of
Aqua MODIS ice and liquid water cloud physical and optical properties between collection 6 and collection 5.1: Cloud radiative effects, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 122, 4550–4564, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JD025654, 2017.
Yorks, J. E., Hlavka, D. L., Hart, W. D., and McGill, M. J.: Statistics of cloud optical properties from airborne lidar measurements, J. Atmos. Ocean. Tech., 28, 869–883,
https://doi.org/10.1175/2011JTECHA1507.1, 2011.
Zhang, D., Wang, Z., and Liu, D.: A global view of mid-level liquid-layer
topped stratiform cloud distribution and phase partition from CALIPSO and CloudSat measurements, J. Geophys. Res., 115,
D00H13, https://doi.org/10.1029/2010JD014030, 2010.
Short summary
In this work, the authors describe a process to determine the thermodynamic cloud phase using the Micro Pulse Lidar Network volume depolarization ratio measurements and temperature profiles from the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office GEOS-5 model. A multi-year analysis and comparisons to supercooled liquid water fractions derived from CALIPSO satellite measurements are used to demonstrate the efficacy of the method.
In this work, the authors describe a process to determine the thermodynamic cloud phase using...
