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  4. Mixed-Phase Clouds and Precipitation in Southern Ocean Cyclones and Cloud Systems Observed Poleward of 64 degrees S by Ship-Based Cloud Radar and Lidar
 
research article

Mixed-Phase Clouds and Precipitation in Southern Ocean Cyclones and Cloud Systems Observed Poleward of 64 degrees S by Ship-Based Cloud Radar and Lidar

Alexander, S. P.
•
McFarquhar, G. M.
•
Marchand, R.
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April 20, 2021
Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres

Mixed-phase clouds (MPCs), composed of both liquid and ice, are prevalent in Southern Ocean cyclones. A characterization of these clouds on fine vertical scales is required in order to understand the microphysical processes within these clouds, and for model and satellite evaluations over this region. We investigated three examples of cloud systems collected by ship-mounted remote-sensing instruments adjacent to East Antarctica at latitudes between 64 degrees S and 69 degrees S. These cases allow us to examine the properties of midlevel MPCs, with cloud tops between 2 and 6 km. Midlevel MPCs contain multiple layers of supercooled liquid water (SLW) embedded within ice during the passage of cyclones. SLW layers are capped by strong temperature inversions and are observed at temperatures as low as -31 degrees C. Convective generating cells (GCs) are present inside supercooled liquid-topped midlevel MPCs. The horizontal extent, vertical extent, and maximum upward Doppler velocity of these GCs were 0.6-3.6 km, 0.7-1.0 km, and 0.5-1.0 m s(-1), respectively, and are consistent with observations from previous lower-latitude studies. Ice precipitation is nearly ubiquitous, except in the thinnest clouds at the trailing end of the observed systems. Seeding of lower SLW layers from above leads to periods with either larger ice particles or greater ice precipitation rates. Periods of supercooled drizzle lasting up to 2 h were observed toward the end of two of the three cyclone systems. This supercooled drizzle turns into predominantly ice precipitation as the result of seeding by ice clouds located above the precipitating SLW layer.

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Type
research article
DOI
10.1029/2020JD033626
Web of Science ID

WOS:000664863900003

Author(s)
Alexander, S. P.
McFarquhar, G. M.
Marchand, R.
Protat, A.
Vignon, E.  
Mace, G. G.
Klekociuk, A. R.
Date Issued

2021-04-20

Published in
Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
Volume

126

Issue

8

Article Number

e2020JD033626

Subjects

Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences

•

Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences

•

lidar

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mixed-phase clouds

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precipitation

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radar

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southern ocean

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mid-latitude cyclones

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comma head region

•

microphysical properties

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aircraft observations

•

microscale structure

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r/v investigator

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liquid water

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part ii

•

organization

•

mesoscale

Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
LTE  
Available on Infoscience
July 3, 2021
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/179747
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