References

ACPD

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions

ACPD

1680-7375

Copernicus GmbH

Göttingen, Germany

10.5194/acpd-7-4889-2007

Physical controls on orographic cirrus inhomogeneity

Kay

J. E.

¹ Baker

² Hegg

National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado, USA

Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA

10 04 2007

7 2 4889 4923

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Optical depth distributions (P(σ)) are a useful measure of radiatively important cirrus (Ci) inhomogeneity. Using a parcel model with binned ice microphysics and kinematic trajectories from a mesoscale weather model (MM5), we assess physical controls on Ci P(σ) during an orographic Ci case study. On 19 April 2001, satellite imagery revealed Ci formation in the lee of the Southern Rocky Mountains and Ci advection along a broad upper level ridge. Above Lamont, Oklahoma (USA), lidar observations indicated a broad Ci P(σ). Along MM5 trajectories associated with the observed Ci, homogeneous freezing and mesoscale variability in vertical velocities led to broad modeled P(σ) and variability in modeled Ci cloud lifetimes. The addition of background ice nuclei concentrations (NIN=0.03 cm−3) to air parcels had little impact on modeled Ci σ variability. The presence of background NIN did increase cloud cover by increasing the frequency of small σ Ci. These results highlight the importance of homogeneous freezing and mesoscale vertical velocity variability in controlling Ci P(σ) shapes along realistic upper tropospheric trajectories.

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