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Publication Abstracts

Chepfer et al. 2025, submitted

Chepfer, H., O. Chomette, A. Arouf, V. Noel, D. Winker, A. Feofilov, and A. Alava Baldazo, 2025: Variability and trends in cloud properties over 17 years from CALIPSO space lidar observations. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., submitted.

In this paper we search for fingerprints of cloud changes over 17 years (2006-2023) within the record of cloud properties collected by the CALIPSO space lidar. Indeed, climate model projections suggest that clouds are rising up in altitude, shrinking in cover and changing fast in the Arctic under the influence of human induced climate warming. We describe how changes in the CALIPSO space lidar mission have created artifacts in the stability of the cloud detection over the mission lifetime. Removing contaminated data reduces the record to 11 full years (2008-2018). For these 11 years, we analyze deseasonalized anomalies of cloud cover, altitude, emissivity and vertical profile, to identify trends at global scale and in specific latitude bands. Results show a decrease in opaque cloud cover and a rise in opaque cloud altitude, consistent in sign with climate model projected changes, but statistically insignificant in the observations. Observed changes do not extend out of the natural variability in any statistically significant way. This suggests that if cloud changes exist, the CALIPSO record might be too short in time or not precise enough to detect them with confidence. This study underscores the need for extending the cloud record from space lidars.

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BibTeX Citation

@unpublished{ch09610n,
  author={Chepfer, H. and Chomette, O. and Arouf, A. and Noel, V. and Winker, D. and Feofilov, A. and Alava Baldazo, A.},
  title={Variability and trends in cloud properties over 17 years from CALIPSO space lidar observations},
  year={2025},
  journal={Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres},
  note={Manuscript submitted for publication}
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - UNPB
ID  - ch09610n
AU  - Chepfer, H.
AU  - Chomette, O.
AU  - Arouf, A.
AU  - Noel, V.
AU  - Winker, D.
AU  - Feofilov, A.
AU  - Alava Baldazo, A.
PY  - 2025
TI  - Variability and trends in cloud properties over 17 years from CALIPSO space lidar observations
JA  - J. Geophys. Res. Atmos.
JO  - Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
ER  -

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