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Article Type:
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On the Transition of Contrails into Cirrus Clouds

F. Schröder Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre, DLR, Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany

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B. Kärcher Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre, DLR, Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany

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C. Duroure Laboratoire de Meteorologie Physique, Université Blaise Pascal, Clermont-Ferrand, France

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J. Ström Meteorologiska Institutionen, Stockholms Universitet, Stockholm, Sweden

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A. Petzold Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre, DLR, Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany

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J.-F. Gayet Laboratoire de Meteorologie Physique, Université Blaise Pascal, Clermont-Ferrand, France

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B. Strauss Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre, DLR, Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany

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P. Wendling Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre, DLR, Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany

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S. Borrmann Institut für Stratosphärenchemie, ICG-1, Forscgunhszentrum Jülich, Germany

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Print Publication:
01 Feb 2000
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(2000)057<0464:OTTOCI>2.0.CO;2
Page(s):
464–480
Restricted access

Abstract

In situ observations of the microphysical properties of upper-tropospheric contrails and cirrus clouds have been performed during more than 15 airborne missions over central Europe. Experimental and technical aspects concerning in situ characterization of ice clouds with the help of optical and nonoptical detection methods (preferably FSSP-300 and Hallet-type replicator) are addressed. The development of contrails into cirrus clouds on the timescale of 1 h is discussed in terms of a representative set of number densities, and size distributions and surface area distributions of aerosols and cloud elements, with special emphasis on small ice crystals (diameter <20 μm). Contrails are dominated by high concentrations (>100 cm−3) of nearly spherical ice crystals with mean diameters in the range 1–10 μm. Young cirrus clouds, which mostly contain small regularly shaped ice crystals in the range 10–20-μm diameter and typical concentrations 2–5 cm−3, have been observed. Measurement results are compared to simple parcel model calculations to identify parameters relevant for the contrail–cirrus transition. Observations and model estimates suggest that contrail growth is only weakly, if at all, affected by preexisting cirrus clouds.

Corresponding author address: Franz Schröder, Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre, Postfach 1116, D-82234 Weßling, Germany.

Email: franz.schroeder@dlr.de

Abstract

In situ observations of the microphysical properties of upper-tropospheric contrails and cirrus clouds have been performed during more than 15 airborne missions over central Europe. Experimental and technical aspects concerning in situ characterization of ice clouds with the help of optical and nonoptical detection methods (preferably FSSP-300 and Hallet-type replicator) are addressed. The development of contrails into cirrus clouds on the timescale of 1 h is discussed in terms of a representative set of number densities, and size distributions and surface area distributions of aerosols and cloud elements, with special emphasis on small ice crystals (diameter <20 μm). Contrails are dominated by high concentrations (>100 cm−3) of nearly spherical ice crystals with mean diameters in the range 1–10 μm. Young cirrus clouds, which mostly contain small regularly shaped ice crystals in the range 10–20-μm diameter and typical concentrations 2–5 cm−3, have been observed. Measurement results are compared to simple parcel model calculations to identify parameters relevant for the contrail–cirrus transition. Observations and model estimates suggest that contrail growth is only weakly, if at all, affected by preexisting cirrus clouds.

Corresponding author address: Franz Schröder, Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre, Postfach 1116, D-82234 Weßling, Germany.

Email: franz.schroeder@dlr.de

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