Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Tropical Tropopause Transition Layer Cirrus as Represented by CALIPSO Lidar Observations

Katrina S. Virts Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington

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John M. Wallace Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington

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Qiang Fu Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington

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Thomas P. Ackerman Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington

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Print Publication:
01 Oct 2010
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/2010JAS3412.1
Page(s):
3113–3129
Restricted access

Abstract

The spatial and temporal variability of cirrus cloud fraction within the tropical tropopause transition layer (TTL) is investigated based on three years of data from the Cloud–Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) mission, analyzed in conjunction with fields from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Re-Analysis (ERA)-Interim and temperature profiles from radiosondes launched at Manus Island, Papua New Guinea (2°S, 147°E). TTL cirrus is found to be mainly confined to the rising branch of the Hadley cell within ∼15° of the equator, with maximum cloud fraction between 14 and 15 km. The time-varying spatial pattern of cloud fraction within this belt does not resemble the pattern of cloud fraction in the layer below, as would be expected if the TTL cirrus were formed by the spreading of the anvils of convective clouds. On the contrary, within the stably stratified layer above ∼13 km, cirrus cloud fraction and temperature both appear to be modulated by the planetary-scale vertical velocity field. The time-varying spatial patterns are reminiscent of the vertical-propagating Kelvin wave response to an equatorial heat source, with the coldest, cloudiest air in the TTL centered approximately 30° of longitude to the east of the strongest heating.

Corresponding author address: Katrina Virts, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, 408 ATG Bldg., Box 351640, Seattle, WA 98195–1640. Email: kvirts@uw.edu

Abstract

The spatial and temporal variability of cirrus cloud fraction within the tropical tropopause transition layer (TTL) is investigated based on three years of data from the Cloud–Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) mission, analyzed in conjunction with fields from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Re-Analysis (ERA)-Interim and temperature profiles from radiosondes launched at Manus Island, Papua New Guinea (2°S, 147°E). TTL cirrus is found to be mainly confined to the rising branch of the Hadley cell within ∼15° of the equator, with maximum cloud fraction between 14 and 15 km. The time-varying spatial pattern of cloud fraction within this belt does not resemble the pattern of cloud fraction in the layer below, as would be expected if the TTL cirrus were formed by the spreading of the anvils of convective clouds. On the contrary, within the stably stratified layer above ∼13 km, cirrus cloud fraction and temperature both appear to be modulated by the planetary-scale vertical velocity field. The time-varying spatial patterns are reminiscent of the vertical-propagating Kelvin wave response to an equatorial heat source, with the coldest, cloudiest air in the TTL centered approximately 30° of longitude to the east of the strongest heating.

Corresponding author address: Katrina Virts, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, 408 ATG Bldg., Box 351640, Seattle, WA 98195–1640. Email: kvirts@uw.edu

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