|
Titel |
On the distribution of relative humidity in cirrus clouds |
VerfasserIn |
P. Spichtinger, K. Gierens, H. G. J. Smit, J. Ovarlez, J.-F. Gayet |
Medientyp |
Artikel
|
Sprache |
Englisch
|
ISSN |
1680-7316
|
Digitales Dokument |
URL |
Erschienen |
In: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ; 4, no. 3 ; Nr. 4, no. 3 (2004-04-16), S.639-647 |
Datensatznummer |
250001704
|
Publikation (Nr.) |
copernicus.org/acp-4-639-2004.pdf |
|
|
|
Zusammenfassung |
We have analysed relative humidity statistics from measurements in
cirrus clouds taken unintentionally during the Measurement of OZone by
Airbus In-service airCraft project (MOZAIC). The shapes of the
in-cloud humidity distributions change from nearly symmetric in
relatively warm cirrus (warmer than −40°C) to considerably
positively skew (i.e. towards high humidities) in colder clouds.
These results are in agreement to findings obtained recently from
the INterhemispheric differences in Cirrus properties from
Anthropogenic emissions (INCA) campaign (Ovarlez et al., 2002). We
interprete the temperature dependence of the shapes of the humidity
distributions as an effect of the length of time a cirrus cloud
needs from formation to a mature equilibrium stage, where the
humidity is close to saturation. The duration of this transitional
period increases with decreasing temperature. Hence cold cirrus
clouds are more often met in the transitional stage than warm
clouds. |
|
|
Teil von |
|
|
|
|
|
|