Odran Sourdeval

Frequency of occurrence of rain from liquid-, mixed- and ice-phase clouds derived from A-Train satellite retrievals

A climatology of thermodynamic phase of precipitating cloud is presented derived from global, land and ocean, retrievals from Cloudsat, CALIPSO, and MODIS. Like precipitation rate, precipitation frequency is dominated by warm rain, defined as rain produced via the liquid phase only, over the tropical oceans outside the ITCZ and by cold rain, produced via the ice phase, over the midlatitude oceans and continents. Warm rain is very infrequent over the continents, with significant warm rain found only in onshore flow in the tropics, and over India, China, and Indochina. Comparison of the properties of precipitating and non-precipitating warm clouds shows that the scarcity of warm rain over land can be explained by smaller effective radii in continental clouds that delay the onset of precipitation. The results highlight the importance of ice-phase processes for the global hydrological cycle and may lead to an improved parameterization of precipitation in general circulation models.

Validation of IIR/CALIPSO Level 1 Measurements by Comparison with Collocated Airborne Observations during CIRCLE-2 and Biscay ‘08 Campaigns

AbstractIn the frame of validation of the spatial observations from the radiometer IIR on board CALIPSO, the two airborne campaigns Cirrus Cloud Experiment (CIRCLE)-2 and Biscay ‘08 took place in 2007 and 2008 in the western part of France, over the Atlantic Ocean. During these experiments, remote sensing measurements were made over cirrus clouds, right under the track of Cloud–Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) in space and time collocation. For this purpose, a Falcon-20 aircraft was equipped with the Lidar pour l’Etude des Interactions Aerosols Nuages Dynamique Rayonnement et du Cycle de l’Eau (LEANDRE)-New Generation (NG) and the thermal infrared radiometer Conveyable Low-Noise Infrared Radiometer for Measurements of Atmosphere and Ground Surface Targets (CLIMAT)-Airborne Version (AV), whose spectral characteristics are strongly similar to those of the infrared imaging radiometer (IIR). In situ measurements were also taken in cirrus clouds during CIRCLE-2. After comp...

Remote Sensing of Droplet Number Concentration in Warm Clouds: A Review of the Current State of Knowledge and Perspectives

Abstract The cloud droplet number concentration (N d) is of central interest to improve the understanding of cloud physics and for quantifying the effective radiative forcing by aerosol‐cloud interactions. Current standard satellite retrievals do not operationally provide N d, but it can be inferred from retrievals of cloud optical depth (τ c) cloud droplet effective radius (r e) and cloud top temperature. This review summarizes issues with this approach and quantifies uncertainties. A total relative uncertainty of 78% is inferred for pixel‐level retrievals for relatively homogeneous, optically thick and unobscured stratiform clouds with favorable viewing geometry. The uncertainty is even greater if these conditions are not met. For averages over 1° ×1° regions the uncertainty is reduced to 54% assuming random errors for instrument uncertainties. In contrast, the few evaluation studies against reference in situ observations suggest much better accuracy with little variability in the bias. More such studies are required for a better error characterization. N d uncertainty is dominated by errors in r e, and therefore, improvements in r e retrievals would greatly improve the quality of the N d retrievals. Recommendations are made for how this might be achieved. Some existing N d data sets are compared and discussed, and best practices for the use of N d data from current passive instruments (e.g., filtering criteria) are recommended. Emerging alternative N d estimates are also considered. First, new ideas to use additional information from existing and upcoming spaceborne instruments are discussed, and second, approaches using high‐quality ground‐based observations are examined.

Cirrus Heterogeneity Effects on Cloud Optical Properties Retrieved with an Optimal Estimation Method from MODIS VIS to TIR Channels.

This study presents preliminary results on the effect of cirrus heterogeneities on top-of-atmosphere (TOA) simulated radiances or reflectances for MODIS channels centered at 0.86, 2.21, 8.56, 11.01 and 12.03 µm, and on cloud optical properties retrieved with a research-level optimal estimation method (OEM). Synthetic cirrus cloud fields are generated using a 3D cloud generator (3DCLOUD) and radiances/reflectances are simulated using a 3D radiative transfer code (3DMCPOL). We find significant differences between the heterogeneity effects on either visible and near-infrared (VNIR) or thermal infrared (TIR) radiances. However, when both wavelength ranges are combined, heterogeneity effects are dominated by the VNIR horizontal radiative transport effect. As a result, small optical thicknesses are overestimated and large ones are underestimated. Retrieved effective diameter are found to be slightly affected, contrarily to retrievals using TIR channels only.This study presents preliminary results on the effect of cirrus heterogeneities on top-of-atmosphere (TOA) simulated radiances or reflectances for MODIS channels centered at 0.86, 2.21, 8.56, 11.01 and 12.03 µm, and on cloud optical properties retrieved with a research-level optimal estimation method (OEM). Synthetic cirrus cloud fields are generated using a 3D cloud generator (3DCLOUD) and radiances/reflectances are simulated using a 3D radiative transfer code (3DMCPOL). We find significant differences between the heterogeneity effects on either visible and near-infrared (VNIR) or thermal infrared (TIR) radiances. However, when both wavelength ranges are combined, heterogeneity effects are dominated by the VNIR horizontal radiative transport effect. As a result, small optical thicknesses are overestimated and large ones are underestimated. Retrieved effective diameter are found to be slightly affected, contrarily to retrievals using TIR channels only.

Ice crystal number concentration estimates from lidar-radar satellite remote sensing. Part 1: Method and evaluation

The number concentration of cloud particles is a key quantity for understanding aerosol–cloud interactions and describing clouds in climate and numerical weather prediction models. In contrast with recent advances for liquid clouds, few observational constraints exist regarding the ice crystal number concentration (Ni). This study investigates how combined lidar–radar measurements can be used to provide satellite estimates of Ni, using a methodology that constrains moments of a parameterized particle size distribution (PSD). The operational liDAR–raDAR (DARDAR) product serves as an existing base for this method, which focuses on ice clouds with temperatures Tc <−30 C. Theoretical considerations demonstrate the capability for accurate retrievals of Ni, apart from a possible bias in the concentration in small crystals when Tc&− 50 C, due to the assumption of a monomodal PSD shape in the current method. This is verified via a comparison of satellite estimates to coincident in situ measurements, which additionally demonstrates the sufficient sensitivity of lidar–radar observations to Ni. Following these results, satellite estimates of Ni are evaluated in the context of a case study and a preliminary climatological analysis based on 10 years of global data. Despite a lack of other large-scale references, this evaluation shows a reasonable physical consistency in Ni spatial distribution patterns. Notably, increases in Ni are found towards cold temperatures and, more significantly, in the presence of strong updrafts, such as those related to convective or orographic uplifts. Further evaluation and improvement of this method are necessary, although these results already constitute a first encouraging step towards large-scale observational constraints for Ni. Part 2 of this series uses this new dataset to examine the controls on Ni.

Satellite Observations of Precipitating Marine Stratocumulus Show Greater Cloud Fraction for Decoupled Clouds in Comparison to Coupled Clouds

Abstract This study examines the relationships between marine stratocumulus clouds (MSC) coupling state with the ocean surface, their precipitation rate and fractional cloud cover (CF). This was possible by developing a novel methodology for satellite retrieval of the clouds coupling state. Decks of overcast MSC were reported in previous studies to break up often as their precipitation rate increases significantly, thus reducing CF and cloud radiative effect substantially. Here we show that decks of precipitating decoupled MSC have larger CF compared to similarly precipitating coupled MSC. The difference in CF between decoupled and coupled clouds was found to increase with precipitation rate, up to nearly doubling the CF of the heaviest precipitating decoupled MSC. This suggests that decoupling is a feature related to higher cloud radiative effect in precipitating MSC.

Cloud base height retrieval from multi-angle satellite data

The authors describe a novel algorithm for the retrieval of cloud base height (CBH) from MISR satellite measurements. Global information on cloud base height is important for many applications and the retrieval approach is interesting and promising. However, the manuscript is not sufficiently convincing in demonstrating the reliability of the new CBH product. Below are a number of major issues to be addressed before this manuscript may be suitable for publication.

Simultaneous multi-layer retrievals of ice and liquid water cloud properties using passive measurements

Cirrus are recognized as having a major, yet poorly understood impact on the Earth-atmosphere radiation balance. The precise study of their properties is thus necessary nowadays, in order to supply accurate information to climate models. Therefore, many studies have been conducted during the past decades to characterize cirrus properties more accurately. Amongst them, the A-Train mission has proven to be particularly important, thanks to a multitude of active and passive instruments. Aiming to take advantage of these new possible of synergies, variational methods, such as optimal estimation, have become commonly used to retrieve properties of ice or liquid water cloud layers. Simultaneous retrievals of ice and liquid clouds properties nevertheless remain rare. In this study, an algorithm dedicated to performing such simultaneous multi-layer retrievals is presented. This algorithm uses the information contained in five channels situated in the visible, near infrared and thermal infrared regions, to retrieve the ice water content of one ice cloud layer, and the optical thickness and droplet effective radius of two possible liquid cloud layers. This paper presents preliminary results of the algorithm that correspond to one month of retrievals, under several CALIOP orbits. Comparisons with products of operational algorithms such as MODIS or DARDAR show good agreement with our retrievals.