NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Collections About News Help Login
Back to Results
An Intercomparison of Microphysical Retrieval Algorithms for Upper Tropospheric Ice CloudsThe large horizontal extent, location in the cold upper troposphere, and ice composition make cirrus clouds important modulators of the earth's radiation budget and climate. Cirrus cloud microphysical properties are difficult to measure and model because they are inhomogeneous in nature and their ice crystal size distribution and habit are not well characterized. Accurate retrievals of cloud properties are crucial for improving the representation of cloud scale processes in large-scale models and for accurately predicting the earth's future climate. A number of passive and active remote sensing retrieval algorithms exist for estimating the microphysical properties of upper tropospheric clouds. We believe significant progress has been made in the evolution of these retrieval algorithms in the last decade, however, there is room for improvement. Members of the Atmospheric Radiation measurement program (ARM) Cloud properties Working Group are involved in an intercomparison of optical depth(tau), ice water path, and characteristic particle size in clouds retrieved using ground-based instruments. The goals of this intercomparison are to evaluate the accuracy of state-of-the-art algorithms, quantify the uncertainties, and make recommendations for improvement.
Document ID
20080006487
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Comstock, Jennifer M. (Pacific Northwest National Lab. United States)
d'Entremont, Robert (Atmospheric and Environmental Research, Inc. United States)
DeSlover, Daniel (Wisconsin Univ. Madison, WI, United States)
Mace, Gerald G. (Utah Univ. Salt Lake City, UT, United States)
Matrosov, Sergey Y. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administraion United States)
McFarlane, Sally A. (Pacific Northwest National Lab. United States)
Minnis, Patrick (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Mitchell, David (Desert Research Inst. Reno, NV, United States)
Sassen, Kenneth (Alaska Univ. Fairbanks Nome, AK, United States)
Shupe, Matthew D. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administraion United States)
Turner, David D. (Wisconsin Univ. Madison, WI, United States)
Wang, Zhien (Wyoming Univ. Laramie, WY, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2006
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

Related Records

There are no records associated with this record.
No Preview Available