A Comparative Study of Cloud Liquid Water Content from Radiosonde Data at a Tropical Location

In this paper, some features of cloud liquid water content with respect to rain and water vapor are presented. Cloud liquid water density profile is obtained from radiosonde observation with Salonen's model and Karsten's model at Kolkata, a tropical location in the Indian region. Cloud liquid water contents (LWC) are obtained from these profiles which show a prominent seasonal variation. The monsoon months exhibit much higher values of LWC than in other months. However Salonen's model yields higher LWC values than that obtained with Karsten's model. The variation of daily total rainfall with LWC shows a positive relationship indicating the role of LWC in controlling the rainfall. Also the variation pattern of LWC with integrated water vapor (IWV) content of the atmosphere indicates that a threshold value of water vapor is required for cloud to form and once cloud is formed LWC increases with IWV.

NUMERICAL STUDY OF REMOTE SENSING OF CLOUD LIQUID WATER CONTENT BY SPACE-BORNE COMBINED RADAR-RADIOMETER

A retrieval method of microwave(MW)space-borne remote sensing of cloud liquid water content by the combined radar-radiometer is suggested.A three-layer cloud model is chosen to represent the typical stratified precipitating cloud.The retrieval method mainly follows our previously suggested scheme with some modifications.Numerical comparative study shows that in space-borne remote sensing of cloud liquid water content by the combined method is much better than by radar only;Also the retrieval accuracy of cloud liquid water content may be improved when using the three-layer cloud model in the combined method.

Aircraft Observations of Liquid and Ice in Midlatitude Mixed-Phase Clouds

ABSTRACT This paper reports airborne measurements of midlatitude altostratus clouds observed over Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China on 3 March 2007. The case demonstrates mixed-phase conditions at altitudes from 3200 to 4600 m （0°C to -7.6°C）, with liquid water content ranging from 0.01 to 0.09 g m-3. In the observed mixed-phase cloud, liquid water content exhibited a bimodal distribution, whereas the maximum ice particle concentration was located in the middle part of the cloud. The liquid and ice particle data showed significant horizontal variability on the scale of a few hundred meters. The cloud droplet concentration varied greatly over the horizontal sampling area. There was an inverse relationship between the cloud droplet concentration and ice particle concentration. A gamma distribution provided the best description of the cloud droplet spectra. The liquid droplet distributions were found to increase in both size and concentration with altitude. It was inferred from the profile of the spectra parameters that the cloud droplet sizes tend to form a quasi-monodisperse distribution. Ice particle spectra in the cloud were fitted well by an exponential distribution. Finally, a remarkable power law relationship was found between the slope （λ） and intercept （No） parameters of the exponential size distribution.

Properties of Cloud and Precipitation over the Tibetan Plateau

The characteristics of seasonal precipitation over the Tibetan Plateau （TP） were investigated using TRMM （Tropical Rain- fall Measuring Mission） precipitation data （3B43）. Sensitive regions of summer precipitation interannual variation anomalies were investigated using EOF （empirical orthogonal function） analysis. Furthermore, the profiles of cloud water content （CWC） and precipitable water in different regions and seasons were analyzed using TRMM-3A12 data observed by the TRMM Microwave Imager. Good agreement was found between hydrometeors and precipitation over the eastern and southeastern TP, where water vapor is adequate, while the water vapor amount is not significant over the western and northern TE Further analysis showed meridional and zonal anomalies of CWC centers in the ascending branch of the Hadley and Walker Circulation, especially over the south and east of the TE The interannual variation of hydrometeors over the past decade showed a decrease over the southeastern and northwestern TP, along with a corresponding increase over other regions.

Comparison of Cloud Properties between Cloud Sat Retrievals and Airplane Measurements in Mixed-Phase Cloud Layers of Weak Convective and Stratus Clouds

Cloud microphysical properties including liquid and ice particle number concentration （NC）, liquid water content （LWC）, ice water content （IWC） and effective radius （RE） were retrieved from CloudSat data for a weakly convective and a widespread stratus cloud. Within the mixed-phase cloud layers, liquid-phase fractions needed to be assumed in the data retrieval process, and one existing linear （Pl） and two exponential （P2 and P3） functions, which estimate the liquid-phase fraction as a function of subfreezing temperature （from -20℃ to 0℃）, were tested. The retrieved NC, LWC, IWC and RE using Pl were on average larger than airplane measurements in the same cloud layer, Function P2 performed better than p1 or P3 in retrieving the NCs of cloud droplets in the convective cloud, while function Pl performed better in the stratus cloud. Function P3 performed better in LWC estimation in both convective and stratus clouds. The REs of cloud droplets calculated using the retrieved cloud droplet NC and LWC were closer to the values of in situ observations than those retrieved directly using the Pl function. The retrieved NCs of ice particles in both convective and stratus clouds, on the assumption of liquid-phase fraction during the retrieval of liquid droplet NCs, were closer to those of airplane observations than on the assumption of function P1.

Relationship between Cloud Characteristics and Radar Reflectivity Based on Aircraft and Cloud Radar Co-observations

Cloud properties were investigated based on aircraft and cloud radar co-observation conducted at Yitong, Jilin, Northeast China. The aircraft provided in situ measurements of cloud droplet size distribution, while the millimeter-wavelength cloud radar vertically scanned the same cloud that the aircraft penetrated. The reflectivity factor calculated from aircraft measurements was compared in detail with sinmltaneous radar observations. The results showed that the two reflectivities were comparable in warm clouds, but in ice cloud there were more differences, which were probably associated with the occurrence of liquid water. The acceptable agreement between reflectivities obtained in water cloud confirmed that it is feasible to derive cloud properties by using aircraft data, and hence for cloud radar to remotely sense cloud properties. Based on the dataset collected in warm clouds, the threshold of reflectivity to diagnose drizzle and cloud particles was studied by analyses of the probability distribution function of reflectivity from cloud particles and drizzle drops. The relationship between refiectivity factor （Z） and cloud liquid water content （LWC） was also derived from data on both cloud particles and drizzle. In comparison with cloud droplets, the relationship for drizzle was blurred by many scatter points and thus was less evident. However, these scatters could be partly removed by filtering out the drop size distribution with a large ratio of reflectivity and large extinction coefficient but small effective radius. Empirical relationships of Z-LWC for both cloud particles and drizzle could then be derived.

基于CloudSat资料的洋面非降水暖云空间分布及云内液相水含量垂直结构

利用CloudSat卫星搭载的云廓线雷达(cloud profiling radar,CPR)2007~2009年三年的观测资料,针对洋面非降水暖云有效廓线样本,分别对积云(Cu)、层云(St)、层积云(Sc)和高积云(Ac)等四类云型,分析了其在全球尺度的水平分布特征,并在此基础上特别考察了非降水暖云液相水含量(liquid water content,LWC)的垂直变化特性.研究发现,洋面非降水暖云中四类云型的样本占比从高至低依次为层积云76.46%、层云12.48%、积云7.45%、高积云3.61%,层积云在非降水暖云的总覆盖面积中占据主导作用.在样本量全球标准化后,四类云型的空间分布形式存在较大差异,层积云与层云主要集中于北美和南美大陆西侧近岸海域,积云与高积云则广泛分布于太平洋、大西洋和印度洋的洋面上,且高值位于大洋中部.尽管四类云型的生消机制和宏观形态存在很大差异,但不同云型LWC呈现出较为相似的垂直结构.对经几何厚度标准化后的LWC廓线进行比较,发现在四类典型非降水暖云中,由云底到云顶LWC一致呈现为先增后减的规律.云体中下部向上近似线性递增的结构基本反映了LWC的准绝热增长特性,而云体上部及云顶附近的向上递减结构明确反映了云顶普遍受到上空干空气侵入混合的强烈影响,由此导致了自云顶向下逐层衰减的云水蒸发.以云高和云厚两个参数分类的廓线统计结果还显示,LWC垂直结构受到云顶高度和云层几何厚度的影响.云层几何厚度增大时,LWC由云底到云中的递增结构会变厚,由云中到云顶的递减结构会变薄.几何厚度相同但云顶高度不同的云层,其LWC含量也有所不同,这表明对于特定云型,在生成及发展过程中,不同阶段所对应的LWC廓线结构也存在差异.

基于Ka波段云雷达观测的中国西天山降雨云宏微观物理特征研究

利用Ka毫米波云雷达与自动气象站降雨资料,研究了西天山地区2019年和2020年5~8月的降雨云宏微观特性。结果表明:(1)降雨主要发生在夜间,累积降雨量集中在21:00(北京时间,下同)至次日07:00,降雨频次和累积降雨量相关系数为0.71。大雨强频次虽最少,但对总累积降雨量贡献较显著。(2)小雨强、中雨强、大雨强平均反射率因子最大值分别为30 dBZ、35.8 dBZ和39.5 dBZ,最大平均液态水含量分别为1.5 g m^(-3)、4.2 g m^(-3)和7.3 g m^(-3)。(3)不同降雨强度对应的反射率因子都有两个集中区域,2.0~4.4 km反射率因子集中在15~26 dBZ,地面附近的小雨强、中雨强、大雨强对应的反射率因子分别集中在24~32 dBZ、29~38 dBZ和31~42 dBZ。1.75 km以下中雨强和大雨强液态含水量小于1gm^(-3)的频率明显少于小雨强,降雨强度的越大降雨粒子径向速度越集中。

机载毫米波雷达反演降水性积层混合云暖区液态水含量及其与飞机观测的对比

液态水含量(Liquid Water Content,LWC)是重要的云参数,对了解云微物理过程以及在人工影响天气效果检验等方面有重要的指导意义。针对已有研究的反射率因子(Z)与LWC经验公式适用范围有限的问题,利用2018—2020年飞机观测资料,在验证中国首部机载云雷达(Ka-band Precipitation Radar,KPR)探测能力和数据可靠性的基础上,采用分档平均方案,建立了适用于降水性积层混合云的Z-LWC经验公式(Z=2454.71×LWC^(1.614)),决定系数达0.995,均方根误差(RMSE)为0.2 g/m^(3)。验证表明,该经验公式反演的液态水含量与飞机实测的LWC吻合较好,且在大多数情况下都优于已有经验公式反演的结果。

降水性层状云微物理结构个例分析

对 2 0 0 0年 4月 1 4日河南省一次降水性层状云系进行了飞机探测。利用探测所取得的微物理资料 ,配合同期的天气、卫星、雷达等资料对云的微物理特征进行了分析 ,讨论了云中液态水含量。

机载微波辐射计测云中液态水含量(Ⅱ):反演方法

介绍了机载对空微波辐射计探测云中路径积分液态水含量(L)的辐射传输原理和反演方法;根据吉林省长春市的历史探空资料和典型的层状云液水垂直分布模式,得到该地区4～7月各月随高度而变化的反演公式系数的表达式,并给出了反演误差的数值模拟检验结果:在地面反演值对"真值"的统计相对偏差是15%～25%,在6km高度处为5%～10%,表明该方法已具有实用可接受的精度。此外,为减少由于回归样本中云液水廓线的"失真"给反演造成的误差,本文在对探空廓线作诊断建立云液水廓线时,引入了实际目测最低云底高的信息。数值模拟比较表明,该措施行之有效,使对流层中下层几乎所有高度上L反演值的精度提高了5%～20%,观测高度越低,精度提高的越多。

银川地区大气水汽、云液态水含量特性的初步分析

基于双通道微波辐射计资料和地面常规气象资料,分析了银川地区不同季节大气水汽含量和云液态水含量的日变化特征及各个时次的降水分布。结果表明,在银川地区,一年观测期内的大气水汽含量逐月变化与多年(1951-2010年)平均降水量逐月变化的相关性较好,相关系数达0.94;大气水汽含量的高值区出现在中午到傍晚时段,低值区出现在日出前后。春、夏、秋季夜间的云液态水含量大于白天;云液态水含量的高值区出现在日出前和傍晚,这种情况在夏、秋季尤为明显;云液态水含量和大气水汽两者间的日变化相关性不显著。

西太平洋赤道海域上空可降水和云液态水的遥感分析

根据1985—1989年中国科学院组织的西太平洋热带海域(0—5°N,110—150°E)综合考察过程中船载双通道微波辐射计五年累计获得的22599组观测资料,以及NOAA极轨卫星资料,综合分析了该海域中水汽总量和云液态水的统计特征及其年际变化,水汽场的整层与下层关系,可降水的日变化及空间分布等特征.指出了某些与陆地上不同的特点,为气候及海上边界层研究提供了有意义的观测事实.同时,给出了五年中辐射计探测与探空测值的统计比较结果.

地基微波辐射计探测在黄河上游人工增雨中的应用

利用2003、2004年夏秋季在青海省河南县的地基双频段微波辐射计连续观测资料，在实施系统探测实验以进行辐射亮温值（TB（23．87），TB（31．65））与大气汽态总水汽含量（Q）和云中积分液态水含量（L）值反演处理的基础上，分析了黄河上游河曲地区的云水特征，并进行了降水预测及人工增雨作业指标的探讨。结果表明：在黄河上游河曲地区，7—9月纯晴天无云天气条件下，L值基本为0，表明了统计回归反演的显著性。多云条件下Q值和L值分别在3．76～4．75g·cm^-2、227．34～859．42g·m^-2的范围内。可降水云天气，Q值在5．23～8．65g·cm^-2间，L值在421．18～1016．37g·m^-2的范围内；积雨云个例分析表明，在降雨开始前近5小时的降雨酝酿期内，Q及L的增加有明显的波动，但在对流云出现并发展时，Q和L总是急剧上升，在降雨前达到一峰值；由河南站和西安站的Q、L值比较差异可以看出，Q、L值受水汽输送、地形等因素的影响，黄河上游河曲地区的人工增雨潜力有显著的优势；所计算出的降水预测阈值。可作为该地区人工增雨作业指标的参考。

机载微波辐射计反演云液水含量的云物理方法

用一维层状云模式产生云样本,通过统计回归求得机载对空微波辐射计测云中路径积分液态水含量的反演系数,与用历史探空统计资料作相对湿度诊断产生云样本的反演方法进行了比较,并通过因素分析、数值模拟检验等方法对机载微波辐射计的探测误差进行估计。对2001年7月8日的个例分析表明,用云模式得到的统计样本,由于加入了对层状云物理过程的考虑,较为符合当天的实际天气情况,在一定程度上减小了由于背景大气条件、云温、云内含水量的垂直分布等的不确定性所引起的反演误差。对反演精度的数值模拟检验表明,各高度层的均方根相对误差在9.5%-12.7%之间,反演精度在所有高度上都高于原方法。对探测误差的因素分析表明,与仪器漂移及背景场引起的误差相比,由云液水垂直分布的不确定所引起的误差是不可忽略的。因此为进一步提高反演精度,根据实际宏观观测资料,对云模式产生的大量样本进行筛选,从中选取与实际云况较为符合的云样本进行拟合,结果表明,采用这一措施可以使反演精度得到进一步改善。

石家庄地区一次秋季冷锋云系垂直微物理结构的观测研究

利用2008年10月4～5日石家庄一次降水性层状云系的飞机探测资料,结合实时天气、卫星、雷达等资料,分析了降水过程的天气背景条件、降水初期云中的液态含水量、云粒子平均直径和粒子谱等要素的垂直分布与变化特征,以及云系的垂直微物理结构。结合云中冰雪晶二维粒子图像的增长和地面降水特征,初步探讨了该层状云系降水形成的物理机制。结果表明,此次降水为北方秋季典型的较稳定性冷锋降水过程,云系由高层卷云、中层高层云、低层层积云组成,垂直结构特征明显;云系微物理要素的垂直分布结构与粒子增长过程符合顾震潮先生的三层模型的冷云降水形成机制。

地基微波辐射计资料在降水分析中的应用

利用武汉MP-3000A型地基微波辐射计,采集降水前大气水汽含量和云液态水含量数据,结合历史观测的气象资料,详细分析了降水前一小时大气水汽含量、云液态水含量的分布和演变与降水的关系,结果表明:1)大雨开始前一刻对应的V(大气水汽含量)值≥6.5 cm,中雨对应的V值接近6 cm,小雨对应的V值在5～6 cm之间;2)V值超过5 cm,L(云液态水含量)值超过1 mm可以作为判断降水临近的一个参考指标;3)降水开始前一小时,大气水汽含量的增长大致分为平稳增长和先增长到一个峰值然后下降,在临近降水前5～10 min又再次跃增这两种情况;4)将各量级降水前一小时的L、V值去除背景值后可发现,L值的大小、波动范围及波动趋势基本无变化;V值的大小和波动范围有所减小,但其波动趋势无明显变化;5)将数据做FFT变换后,V、L值在第一个转折点处表现出的不同特征可作为判断降水临近的一个指标。

37GHz和94GHz的大气微波衰减比较分析

毫米波更接近云粒子的尺度,因此毫米波及短厘米波段雷达已被应用于云层的探测,美国与加拿大的云卫星计划(CloudSat)将要上3mm云雷达(CPR),如何与已在天上的TRMM/PR结合,获得从薄云到浓厚云的垂直结构信息,是一个值得关注的课题。但是,毫米波云雷达探测,必须考虑的问题之一是大气衰减订正。主要比较分析了在37GHz和94GHz大气的衰减特性,目的是对星载94GHz云雷达进行大气的衰减订正。计算分析了在不同云、大气条件下37GHz和94GHz的大气衰减,得出如下结论:1大气气体的微波吸收在测云波段产生明显的衰减,其中水汽衰减效应变化很大;即将上天的空间94GHz测云雷达必须有水汽衰减订正方案。237GHz和94GHz雷达测云,由于大气和云衰减不同和雷达反射率的很大差异,导致雷达回波信号强弱不同。3对云层较薄、含水量较少的云,在不计雷达参数的情况下,37GHz雷达回波信号不如94GHz测云雷达,也就是说94GHz对薄云有更强的探测能力;对云层较厚、含水量大的云,由于强衰减的作用,94GHz雷达回波信号小于37GHz雷达。4从大气衰减的不利因素方面考虑,空间94GHz雷达测高层薄云的效果最好;测低层薄云时需要考虑气体衰减订正;因浓厚云的强衰减作用,探测其中下部的能力大大减弱,不仅要进行衰减订正。

山西省层状云微物理结构探测分析

针对山西省2009年6月18～19日的一次降水过程,利用机载DMT探测资料、Micaps常规天气资料和卫星云图等资料分析了这次降水的宏微观特征。结果表明:这次降水是锋面云系产生的,18日山西省处于冷锋锋前,19日为冷锋锋后;锋前云底较低,云层较厚,有夹层存在,云中上升气流很强,云滴数浓度最大为280cm-3、平均直径最大为15μm、含水量最大值为0.35g/m3,云滴谱呈双峰或多锋型;锋后云底较高,云层较薄,云滴数浓度最大值为170cm-3、平均直径最大为10μm、含水量最大值为0.05g/m3,云滴谱呈双峰或多锋型;层状云在垂直方向和水平方向均存在不均匀性;垂直方向含水量变化与云滴尺度变化较为一致,水平方向含水量增加主要因为大云滴数密度的增加;Γ分布拟合云滴谱结果接近实际分布。