Sensitivity of the Grid-point Atmospheric Model of IAP LASG(GAMILI.I.0)Climate Simulations to Cloud Droplet Effective Radius and Liquid Water Path

This paper documents a study to examine the sensitivity to cloud droplet effective radius and liquid water path and the alleviation the energy imbalance at the top of the atmosphere and at the surface in the latest version of the Grid-point Atmospheric Model of the State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics （LASG）, Institute of Atmospheric Physics （IAP） （GAMIL1.1.0）. Considerable negative biases in all flux components, and thus an energy imbalance, are found in GAMIL1.1.0. In order to alleviate the energy imbalance, two modifications, namely an increase in cloud droplet effective radius and a decrease in cloud liquid water path, have been made to the cloud properties used in GAMIL. With the increased cloud droplet effective radius, the single scattering albedo of clouds is reduced, and thus the reflection of solar radiation into space by clouds is reduced and the net solar radiation flux at the top of the atmosphere is increased. With the reduced cloud optical depth, the net surface shortwave radiation flux is increased, causing a net warming over the land surface. This results in an increase in both sensible and latent heat fluxes over the land regions, which is largely balanced by the increased terrestrial radiation fluxes. Consequently, the energy balance at the top of atmosphere and at the surface is achieved with energy flux components consistent with available satellite observations.

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.

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.

青藏高原东侧九龙夏季非降水云的观测特征

青藏高原东侧九龙地区是西南涡多发区,利用该地区新型探测设备开展云探测,有助于增强对西南涡多发区云特征的认识。利用2018—2019年6—8月九龙站地基微波辐射计资料,分析了该地区夏季非降水云的出现率、液态水路径及过冷水路径的观测特征。结果表明:九龙夏季非降水云出现率月均值在67%~82%之间,以低云和中云为主,高云较少;低云出现率表现为白天低、夜间高,而中云和高云则相反;云出现率的垂直分布表现为单峰形态,在约2km高度存在云出现率峰值8.1%;受大气热力层结日变化影响,云出现率的单峰垂直分布呈现日夜差异。另外,九龙夏季非降水云的液态水路径均值为0.433kg·m^(-2),其中低云、中云、高云的液态水路径均值分别为0.665、0.240、0.102kg·m^(-2);低云的液态水路径日变化特征与其出现率相似,而中云和高云的液态水路径日变化特征不明显。此外,九龙夏季非降水云中冷云的过冷水路径均值为0.154kg·m^(-2),其中低云、中云、高云的过冷水路径均值分别为0.065、0.166、0.102kg·m^(-2);总体上过冷水路径在液态水路径中的占比约为34.3%~38.8%,过冷水路径占比随云的高度而增大,这使得中云和高云的过冷水路径日变化与其液态水路径相似。与同纬度华中地区相比,九龙夏季非降水云具有明显不同的特征,这与两地之间的大气水汽特征差异密切相关。

长江三角洲地区高空云过程气溶胶——云相互作用的观测研究

气溶胶—云相互作用过程对于评估大气云和气溶胶的寿命及气候效应至关重要。目前关于气溶胶—云相互作用的研究主要以飞机航测、卫星反演和模式模拟为主,地基直接观测由于布置难度大、实验时间长、人力物力耗费等原因开展得较少。当前针对气溶胶—云相互作用机制的理解还比较低,亟需外场观测资料深入认识其过程。本研究以长江三角洲地区高山站点的云雾为背景,利用雾滴谱仪、地用逆流虚拟撞击器、混合凝聚核粒子计数器、扫描电迁移率颗粒物粒径谱仪等仪器,研究了大明山顶(海拔1483 m)7月份多云雾期间云滴和气溶胶的特性,探讨了气溶胶对云形成和发展的影响以及云对气溶胶颗粒物的清除作用。云形成初期对气溶胶颗粒物的清除率约为20%~50%。研究显示水汽过饱和度越高且颗粒物粒径越大,清除率越高,这表明粒径较大的吸湿性颗粒物容易活化为云凝结核。对比同一云雾事件中气溶胶数浓度差异较大的三个阶段,我们发现较低的气溶胶数浓度有利于形成液态水含量高的浓云,此时云团由数量相对较少而粒径大的云滴组成,而大气颗粒物数量增多会使云雾变淡,此时的云团由大量细小的云滴组成。本研究分析了8μm以上云滴的云凝结核数量分布特征,发现大云滴的云凝结核几乎都是100 nm以上的颗粒物;随着气溶胶数浓度升高,8μm以上大云滴的数量减少,且大云滴云凝结核的平均直径变大。这些结果显示气溶胶数浓度升高会促使云滴的数量增多而等效直径变小,在水汽有限的自然环境中,气溶胶数浓度越高,颗粒物的临界活化直径越大。总之,我们发现大气气溶胶的数浓度—粒径分布特性影响着云滴的数量和粒径,云的形成和发展也对气溶胶颗粒物有较强的清除作用。

利用CloudSat和MODIS数据研究气溶胶对层积云的影响

利用CloudSat的云雷达数据研究了太平洋东部副热带地区的层积云微物理特性。结果显示,CloudSat反演的云滴数浓度在垂直方向变化很小。结合CloudSat的云雷达数据和MODIS的气溶胶数据,研究了气溶胶对层积云的微物理特性和液态水路径的影响。结果表明:对于相同的液态水路径,气溶胶增加可以使得云滴的尺度减小,但总体上对云滴尺度的影响并不显著;由于云中液态水路径本身变化极大,导致气溶胶对液态水路径的影响很难和云中液态水路径本身的变化分离开。此外还发现:CloudSat反演的层积云液态水路径比MODIS反演的液态水路径偏高;层积云内液态水路径的不均一性比环境气溶胶光学厚度的不均一性大。

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.

华北一次层状云系暖区水汽和液态水分布特征

基于机载微波辐射计、地基微波辐射计和Ka波段云雷达3种遥感资料,结合FY-4A气象卫星、气象观测站、天气雷达及再分析资料,研究2021年5月15日一次华北降水性层状云系暖区的水汽和液态水分布特征。结果表明:水汽和液态水的水平分布不均,飞机平飞时机载微波辐射计探测的积分水汽含量和液态水路径起伏变化,最大值分别为4.00 cm和1.87 mm,随着暖区云顶高度和云层厚度降低,二者分别降至0.89 cm和0.13 mm。随着降水发生发展,地基微波辐射计探测的积分水汽含量和液态水路径均出现跃增,峰值分别为8.62 cm和3.85 mm,水汽变化滞后于液态水,垂直方向上液态水含量的累积区厚度、最大值及所在高度均随降水先增后减,液态水的时空演变对暖区降水及增雨作业时机和部位的判识有重要指示意义。云雷达探测的液态水含量也出现跃增,在1 km高度以下反射率因子较大、粒子下落速度及离散程度较大时段,液态水丰富,对应降水量较大,粒子碰并是暖区降水的主要机制。

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.

RegCM4.6两种积云参数化方案在东亚模拟结果的评估

新一代区域气候模式RegCM4.6引进了Mix积云参数化方案,可以将之前版本中的Emanuel和Grell方案结合在一起,以弥补单个参数化方案的不足。利用2016年MODIS(Moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer)数据对RegCM4.6中Mix和Emanuel积云参数化方案模拟的东亚云量(Cloud fraction,CF)、冰水柱含量(Ice water path,IWP)和液水柱含量(Liquid water path,LWP)进行初步评估,计算了相关系数(r)、平均绝对误差(Mean absolute error,MAE)、平均偏差(Mean bias error,MBE)和均方根误差(Root mean square error,RMSE),以便为相关研究选取积云参数化方案提供参考依据。结果表明:(1)模拟的CF的MBE大致以胡焕庸线为界,西北部为轻微高估,东南部通常为低估。2种方案在夏季的模拟效果最好,冬季最差。Mix方案的MAE、MBE和RMSE的绝对值在四季普遍小于Emanuel方案。(2)模式明显低估了东亚的IWP,除夏季外,2种方案模拟的IWP与MODIS的都呈显著负相关,表明模式难以准确模拟出云中冰晶相关的物理过程。(3)2种方案模拟的LWP在青藏高原和东部海域均为低估,在中国南部、中部和北部为高估,但Mix方案的偏差更接近于0。冬季,2种方案的评估参数相近,其他季节Mix方案的MAE、MBE和RMSE的绝对值均小于Emanuel方案,其中MAE相差21~39 g·m-2。因此,Mix方案更适用于在东亚进行云水资源方面的模拟研究。

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。

基于183 GHz机载微波辐射计探测水汽和云中液态水反演算法研究

基于机载微波辐射计GVR,以北京探空资料作为训练数据,机载对空微波辐射传输方程作为前向算子,建立基于BP神经网络和Decker模型基础上的积分水汽含量和液态水路径反演算法。与GVR自带算法相比,新算法增加观测高度作为输入变量,考虑温度对云水相态的影响建立新的云模型,对历史探空资料进行补全,增加积分高度至30 km。利用数值模拟检验、外场观测试验和观测误差传递分析对两种算法反演的积分水汽含量反演误差进行验证,结果表明:新算法和自带算法模拟计算的反演值与探空计算值相关系数分别为0.9988、0.9929,自带算法反演值普遍低于探空计算值;新算法和GVR自带算法反演的积分水汽含量统计均方根绝对误差分别为0.05~1.30 mm、0.2~3.0 mm,相对误差分别为1%~10%、4%~65%,新算法在6 km以下计算的积分水汽含量相对误差最小值为1%,整层高度上约75%的相对误差低于5%,而自带算法仅有不到1%的相对误差低于5%;以2016年11月20日观测个例为例,GVR仪器观测误差经过新算法和自带算法反演公式传递后造成的误差在3000 m高度分别为0.05 mm和0.06 mm,随水汽探测值增大(飞机高度下降),自带算法传递误差增大幅度明显高于新算法。选择2021年6月30日飞行个例,对两种算法反演的液态水路径反演误差进行验证,结果表明:在飞机上空无云时段,新算法和自带算法反演的液态水路径范围分别为0 mm、0~0.006 mm。误差分析表明,新算法可提升本地积分水汽含量和液态水路径反演精度。

Fundamentals on Thermodynamic Processes behind Clouds’ and Rainfalls’ Formation

The prevailing idea so far about why the rainfall occurs was that after agglutination of water droplets with condensation nuclei, the size of the particle formed by the condensation nuclei connected with droplets of water increased considerably and caused its fall. This idea has led to numerous scientific publications in which empirical distribution functions of clouds’ water droplets sizes were proposed. Estimates values provided by these empirical distribution functions, in most cases, were validated by comparison with UHF Radar measurements. The condensation nuclei concept has not been sufficiently exploited and this has led meteorologists to error, in their attempt to describe the clouds, thinking that clouds were formed by liquid water droplets. Indeed, MBANE BIOUELE paradox (2005) confirms this embarrassing situation. In fact, when applying Archimedes theorem to a liquid water droplet suspended in the atmosphere, we obtain a meaningless inequality ?which makes believe that the densities of pure water in liquid and solid phases are much lower than that of the atmosphere considered at the sea level. This meaningless inequality is easy to contradict: of course, if you empty a bottle of pure liquid water in the ocean (where z is equal to 0), this water will not remain suspended in the air, i.e., application of Archimedes’ theorem allows realizing that there is no liquid (or solid) water droplet, suspended in the clouds. Indeed, all liquid (or solid) water droplets which are formed in clouds, fall under the effect of gravity and produce rains. This means that our current description of the clouds is totally wrong. In this study, we describe the clouds as a gas composed of dry air and saturated water vapor whose optical properties depend on temperature, i.e., when the temperature of a cloud decreases, the color of this gaseous system tends towards white.

基于机载微波辐射计的天津地区典型层状云水汽和液态水分布特征分析

基于2016年11月20日机载微波辐射计GVR(G-band water Vapor Radiometer)和热线含水量仪探测资料以及FY-2E卫星云顶亮温、天津塘沽站雷达组合反射率、美国国家环境预报中心(National Centers for Environment Prediction,NCEP)/国家大气研究中心(National Center for Atmospheric Research,NCAR)FNL再分析资料,分析天津地区典型层状云水汽和液态水分布特征。结果表明:层状云的液态水路径自云底向上随高度上升而减小,到达冰云高度后减至0 mm,而积分水汽含量自地面向上随高度上升逐渐减小,在云上3 500 m高度平飞过程中稳定在0.3~0.5 cm。液态水密度随高度上升先增后减,在云底(900 m)以上GVR探测的液态水均为过冷水,在上升过程中过冷水主要分布在900~2 400 m高度,密度最大为0.63 g·m^(-3),而在下降过程中主要分布在900~1 600 m高度,密度最大为0.78 g·m^(-3)。相比热线含水量仪,GVR能更好地反映云中过冷水含量及过冷层高度和厚度。水汽主要源于平流输送,水汽密度在400 m高度向上不断增大,在云底附近明显积聚后迅速减小,在1 400~3 000 m高度波动变化。随着降水的临近,飞机下降阶段的最大水汽密度增大且高度上升,水汽大值层厚度增大,可为降水预报及人工影响天气提供一定参考。

藏东南墨脱地区云中过冷水的毫米波雷达观测

云中过冷水识别对于人工影响天气及预防飞机积冰具有重要意义,但过冷水的识别一直是气象探测中的难点,毫米波雷达是连续探测云结构和物理特征的有效工具。利用布设在藏东南水汽通道入口处墨脱地区的Ka波段毫米波云雷达基数据,结合微波辐射计温度资料,采用基于模糊逻辑法、阈值法进行过冷水识别,识别出的粒子相态包含冰、雪、过冷水及混合态。并利用同址的微波辐射计的液态水路径(liquid water paths,LWP)对墨脱云雷达观测的两个层积云过程的过冷水识别效果进行了分析和初步验证。结果表明:模糊逻辑法和阈值法识别的过冷水基本合理,但模糊逻辑法可以识别更多的过冷水,从定量分析来看,模糊逻辑法相对于阈值法识别的LWP更接近于微波辐射计。藏东南墨脱地区层积云中过冷水的微物理参数与其他地区较为一致,有效半径主要位于7~15μm,液态水含量(liquid water content,LWC)主要分布在0.01~0.3 g/m^(3),但墨脱地区过冷水的分布比其他地区更为丰富,往往云顶、云底及云中同时存在过冷水。

Retrieval of Oceanic Total Precipitable Water Vapor and Cloud Liquid Water from Fengyun-3D Microwave Sounding Instruments

Fengyun-3 D(FY-3 D) satellite is the latest polar-orbiting meteorological satellite launched by China and carries 10 instruments onboard. Its microwave temperature sounder(MWTS) and microwave humidity sounder(MWHS) can acquire a total of 28 channels of brightness temperatures, providing rich information for profiling atmospheric temperature and moisture. However, due to a lack of two important frequencies at 23.8 and 31.4 GHz, it is difficult to retrieve the total precipitable water vapor(TPW) and cloud liquid water path(CLW) from FY-3 D microwave sounder data as commonly done for other microwave sounding instruments. Using the channel similarity between Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership(NPP) advanced technology microwave sounder(ATMS) and FY-3 D microwave sounding instruments, a machine learning(ML) technique is used to generate the two missing low-frequency channels of MWTS and MWHS. Then, a new dataset named as combined microwave sounder(CMWS) is obtained,which has the same channel setting as ATMS but the spatial resolution is consistent with MWTS. A statistical inversion method is adopted to retrieve TPW and CLW over oceans from the FY-3 D CMWS. The intercomparison between different satellites shows that the inversion products of FY-3 D CMWS and Suomi NPP ATMS have good consistency in magnitude and distribution. The correlation coefficients of retrieved TPW and CLW between CMWS and ATMS can reach 0.95 and 0.85, respectively.

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.

ESTIMATION OF CLOUD LIQUID WATER OVER THE HUBEX AREA USING THE TRMM MICROWAVE IMAGER

The ability of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Microwave Imager(TRMM/TMI)for cloud liquid water(CLW)retrieval has been demonstrated in this study.Due to the great sensitivity of the TMI 85.5 GHz channels to CLW,the liquid water path(LWP)of nonprecipitating clouds over land can be successfully estimated using the VDISORT model based on the iteration steps.Both the vertical-polarized 85. 5 GHz single-channel method and the polarization-difference of 85.5 GHz method were applied to the LWP estimates over land regions during the Huaihe River Basin Energy and Water Cycle Experiment(HUBEX)in China.The retrieval results show reasonable agreement with the ground-based microwave radiometer measurements.When the surface emissivity or skin temperature is difficult to be made sure,the polarization-difference method shows advantages of providing estimates of LWP especially for low clouds because of its extremely insensitiveness to the surface skin temperature.