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| Titel |
Variability of mixed-phase clouds in the Arctic with a focus on the Svalbard region: a study based on spaceborne active remote sensing |
| VerfasserIn |
G. Mioche, O. Jourdan, M. Ceccaldi, J. Delanoë |
| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| ISSN |
1680-7316
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| Digitales Dokument |
URL |
| Erschienen |
In: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ; 15, no. 5 ; Nr. 15, no. 5 (2015-03-05), S.2445-2461 |
| Datensatznummer |
250119492
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 copernicus.org/acp-15-2445-2015.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
| The Arctic region is known to be very sensitive to climate change. Clouds
and in particular mixed-phase clouds (MPCs) remain one of the greatest
sources of uncertainties in the modelling of the Arctic response to climate
change due to an inaccurate representation of their variability and their
quantification. In this study, we present a characterisation of the
vertical, spatial and seasonal variability of Arctic clouds and MPCs over
the entire Arctic region based on satellite active remote sensing
observations. MPC properties in the region of the Svalbard archipelago
(78° N, 15° E) are also investigated. The occurrence
frequency of clouds and MPCs are determined from CALIPSO/CLOUDSAT
measurements processed with the DARDAR retrieval algorithm, which allow for a
reliable cloud thermodynamic phase classification (warm liquid, supercooled
liquid, ice, mixing of ice and supercooled liquid). Significant differences
are observed between MPC properties over the entire Arctic region and over
the Svalbard region. Results show that MPCs are encountered all year long,
with a minimum occurrence of 30% in winter and 50% during the rest of
the year on average over the entire Arctic. Over the Svalbard region, MPC
occurrence is more constant with time with larger values (55%) compared
to the average observed in the Arctic. MPCs are especially located at low
altitudes, below 3000 m, where their frequency of occurrence reaches 90%, particularly during winter, spring and autumn. Moreover, results
highlight that MPCs are statistically more frequent above open sea than land
or sea ice. The temporal and spatial distribution of MPCs over the Svalbard
region seems to be linked to the supply of moister air and warmer water from
the North Atlantic Ocean, which contribute to the initiation of the liquid
water phase. Over the whole Arctic, and particularly in western regions, the
increase of MPC occurrence from spring to autumn could be connected to the
sea ice melting. During this period, the open water transports some of the
warm water from the North Atlantic Ocean to the rest of the Arctic region.
This facilitates the vertical transfer of moisture and thus the persistence
of the liquid phase. Particular attention is also paid to the measurement
uncertainties and how they could affect our conclusions. |
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