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Ann. Geophys., 20, 1891-1898, 2002
www.ann-geophys.net/20/1891/2002/
© European Geosciences Union 2002
Cloud microphysical characteristics versus temperature for three Canadian field projects
I. Gultepe, G. A. Isaac, and S. G. Cober
Cloud Physics Research Division, MSC/ARMP , 4905 Dufferin St. Downsview, Ontario M3H-5T4, Canada
Correspondence to: I. Gultepe
(ismail.gultepe@ec.gc.ca)
Abstract. The purpose of this study
is to better understand how cloud microphysical characteristics such as liquid
water content (LWC) and droplet number concentration (Nd)
change with temperature (T). The in situ observations were collected
during three research projects including: the Radiation, Aerosol, and Cloud
Experiment (RACE) which took place over the Bay of Fundy and Central Ontario
during August 1995, the First International Regional Arctic Cloud Experiment (FIRE.ACE)
which took place in the Arctic Ocean during April 1998, and the Alliance Icing
Research Study (AIRS) which took place in the Ontario region during the winter
of 1999–2000. The RACE, FIRE.ACE, and AIRS projects represent summer
mid-latitude clouds, Arctic clouds, and mid-latitude winter clouds,
respectively. A LWC threshold of 0.005 g m-3 was used for this
study. Similar to other studies, LWC was observed to decrease with decreasing T.
The LWC-T relationship was similar for all projects, although the range
of T conditions for each project was substantially different, and the
variability of LWC within each project was considerable. Nd
also decreased with decreasing T, and a parameterization for Nd
versus T is suggested that may be useful for modeling studies.
Key words. Atmospheric composition and structure
(cloud physics and chemistry) – Meteorology and atmospheric dynamics (climatology;
general circulation)
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