Print Email Facebook Twitter Simultaneous and synergistic profiling of cloud and drizzle properties using ground-based observations Title Simultaneous and synergistic profiling of cloud and drizzle properties using ground-based observations Author Rusli, S. (TU Delft Atmospheric Remote Sensing; Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI)) Donovan, D.P. (Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI)) Russchenberg, H.W.J. (TU Delft Atmospheric Remote Sensing) Date 2017-12-11 Abstract Despite the importance of radar reflectivity (Z) measurements in the retrieval of liquid water cloud properties, it remains nontrivial to interpret Z due to the possible presence of drizzle droplets within the clouds. So far, there has been no published work that utilizes Z to identify the presence of drizzle above the cloud base in an optimized and a physically consistent manner. In this work, we develop a retrieval technique that exploits the synergy of different remote sensing systems to carry out this task and to subsequently profile the microphysical properties of the cloud and drizzle in a unified framework. This is accomplished by using ground-based measurements of Z, lidar attenuated backscatter below as well as above the cloud base, and microwave brightness temperatures. Fast physical forward models coupled to cloud and drizzle structure parameterization are used in an optimal-estimation-Type framework in order to retrieve the best estimate for the cloud and drizzle property profiles. The cloud retrieval is first evaluated using synthetic signals generated from large-eddy simulation (LES) output to verify the forward models used in the retrieval procedure and the vertical parameterization of the liquid water content (LWC). From this exercise it is found that, on average, the cloud properties can be retrieved within 5% of the mean truth. The full cloud-drizzle retrieval method is then applied to a selected ACCEPT (Analysis of the Composition of Clouds with Extended Polarization Techniques) campaign dataset collected in Cabauw, the Netherlands. An assessment of the retrieval products is performed using three independent methods from the literature; each was specifically developed to retrieve only the cloud properties, the drizzle properties below the cloud base, or the drizzle fraction within the cloud. One-To-one comparisons, taking into account the uncertainties or limitations of each retrieval, show that our results are consistent with what is derived using the three independent methods. To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:bda5adad-b2b3-49a4-aae2-edf0443909be DOI https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-4777-2017 ISSN 1867-1381 Source Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, 10 (12), 4777-4803 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2017 S. Rusli, D.P. Donovan, H.W.J. Russchenberg Files PDF amt_10_4777_2017.pdf 13.74 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:bda5adad-b2b3-49a4-aae2-edf0443909be/datastream/OBJ/view