Makoto Wada

A study of precipitating clouds close to fronts using microwave radiometry and radar in Svalbard, Arctic

Developed cyclones and deeply occluded fronts are often found in polar regions. Observations of precipitating clouds associated with fronts and a cyclone were carried out in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, using a microwave radiometer and other meteorological instruments. Precipitating clouds to the north of a warm front were stratiform and held no liquid water. Precipitating clouds in and behind two occluded fronts and a cold front were convective clouds. Precipitating clouds in the centre of a cyclone were also convective, while precipitating clouds behind the cyclone were stratiform. Some clouds contained no liquid water, but others contained a substantial amount.