Measurement of Stratus Cloud and Drizzle Parameters in ASTEX with a Kα-Band Doppler Radar and a Microwave Radiometer

A. S. Frisch NOAA Environmental Technology Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado

Search for other papers by A. S. Frisch in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
C. W. Fairall NOAA Environmental Technology Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado

Search for other papers by C. W. Fairall in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
J. B. Snider NOAA Environmental Technology Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado

Search for other papers by J. B. Snider in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Full access

We are aware of a technical issue preventing figures and tables from showing in some newly published articles in the full-text HTML view.
While we are resolving the problem, please use the online PDF version of these articles to view figures and tables.

Abstract

Data are used from a Kα-band radar and microwave radiometer along with a droplet model to determine the droplet parameters of drizzle and clouds. Drizzle droplet parameters are determined from the zeroth, first, and second moments of the Doppler spectrum. Cloud droplet parameters are determined from the zeroth moment of the Doppler spectrum and the measured integrated liquid water. Measurements of stratus clouds were made during the Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX) on the island of Porto Santo in the Madeira Islands, Portugal. Potential applications of this technique would be in the long-term monitoring of stratus clouds and in determining the vertical profiles of cloud liquid water, number of cloud droplets, and modal radius.

Abstract

Data are used from a Kα-band radar and microwave radiometer along with a droplet model to determine the droplet parameters of drizzle and clouds. Drizzle droplet parameters are determined from the zeroth, first, and second moments of the Doppler spectrum. Cloud droplet parameters are determined from the zeroth moment of the Doppler spectrum and the measured integrated liquid water. Measurements of stratus clouds were made during the Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX) on the island of Porto Santo in the Madeira Islands, Portugal. Potential applications of this technique would be in the long-term monitoring of stratus clouds and in determining the vertical profiles of cloud liquid water, number of cloud droplets, and modal radius.

Save