Publication Abstracts

Han et al. 1994

Han, Q., W.B. Rossow, and A.A. Lacis, 1994: Near-global survey of effective droplet radii in liquid water clouds using ISCCP data. J. Climate, 7, 465-497, doi:10.1175/1520-0442(1994)007<0465:NGSOED>2.0.CO;2.

A global survey of cloud particle size variations can provide crucial constraints of how cloud processes determine cloud liquid water contents and their variation with temperature, and further, may indicate the magnitude of aerosol effects on clouds. A method, based on a complete radiative transfer model for AVHRR-measured radiances, is described for retrieving cloud particle radii in liquid water clouds from satellite data currently available from the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project. Results of sensitivity tests and validation studies provide error estimate. AVHRR data from NOAA-9 and NOAA-10 have been analyzed for January, April, July, and October in 1987 and 1988. The results of this first survey reveal systematic continental and maritime differences and hemispheric contrasts that are indicative of the effects of associated aerosol concentration differences: cloud droplet radii in continental water clouds are about 2-3 µm smaller than in marine clouds, and droplet radii are about 1 µm smaller in marine clouds of the Northern Hemisphere than in the Southern Hemisphere. The height dependencies of cloud droplet radii in continental and marine clouds are also consistent with differences in the vertical profiles of aerosol concentration. Significant seasonal and diurnal variations of effective droplet radii are also observed, particularly at lower latitudes. Variations of the relationship between cloud optical thickness and droplet radii may indicate variations in cloud microphysical regimes.

Export citation: [ BibTeX ] [ RIS ]

BibTeX Citation

@article{ha06800b,
  author={Han, Q. and Rossow, W. B. and Lacis, A. A.},
  title={Near-global survey of effective droplet radii in liquid water clouds using ISCCP data},
  year={1994},
  journal={Journal of Climate},
  volume={7},
  pages={465--497},
  doi={10.1175/1520-0442(1994)007%3C0465%3ANGSOED%3E2.0.CO;2},
}

[ Close ]

RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - ha06800b
AU  - Han, Q.
AU  - Rossow, W. B.
AU  - Lacis, A. A.
PY  - 1994
TI  - Near-global survey of effective droplet radii in liquid water clouds using ISCCP data
JA  - J. Climate
JO  - Journal of Climate
VL  - 7
SP  - 465
EP  - 497
DO  - 10.1175/1520-0442(1994)007%3C0465%3ANGSOED%3E2.0.CO;2
ER  -

[ Close ]

• Return to 1994 Publications

• Return to Publications Homepage