Publication Abstracts
McCoy et al. 2018
McCoy, D.T., P.R. Field, A. Schmidt, D.P. Grosvenor, B.J. Shipway, A.A. Hill, J.M. Wilkinson, and , 2018: Aerosol-mid-latitude cyclone indirect effects in observations and high-resolution simulations. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 5821-5846, doi:10.5194/acp-18-5821-2018.
Aerosol-cloud interactions are a major source of uncertainty in inferring the climate sensitivity from the observational record of temperature. The adjustment of clouds to aerosol is a poorly constrained aspect of these aerosol-cloud interactions. Here, we examine the response of midlatitude cyclone cloud properties to a change in cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC). Idealized experiments in high-resolution, convection-permitting global aquaplanet simulations with constant CDNC are compared to 13 years of remote-sensing observations. Observations and idealized aquaplanet simulations agree that increased warm conveyor belt (WCB) moisture flux into cyclones is consistent with higher cyclone liquid water path (CLWP). When CDNC is increased a larger LWP is needed to give the same rain rate. The LWP adjusts to allow the rain rate to be equal to the moisture flux into the cyclone along the WCB. This results in an increased CLWP for higher CDNC at a fixed WCB moisture flux in both observations and simulations. If observed cyclones in the top and bottom tercile of CDNC are contrasted it is found that they have not only higher CLWP but also cloud cover and albedo. The difference in cyclone albedo between the cyclones in the top and bottom third of CDNC is observed by CERES to be between 0.018 and 0.032, which is consistent with a 4.6-8.3 W/m2 in-cyclone enhancement in upwelling shortwave when scaled by annual-mean insolation. Based on a regression model to observed cyclone properties, roughly 60% of the observed variability in CLWP can be explained by CDNC and WCB moisture flux.
Export citation: [ BibTeX ] [ RIS ]
BibTeX Citation
@article{mc02100m,
author={McCoy, D. T. and Field, P. R. and Schmidt, A. and Grosvenor, D. P. and Shipway, B. J. and Hill, A. A. and Wilkinson, J. M. and Elsaesser, G. S.},
title={Aerosol-mid-latitude cyclone indirect effects in observations and high-resolution simulations},
year={2018},
journal={Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics},
volume={18},
pages={5821--5846},
doi={10.5194/acp-18-5821-2018},
}
[ Close ]
RIS Citation
TY - JOUR ID - mc02100m AU - McCoy, D. T. AU - Field, P. R. AU - Schmidt, A. AU - Grosvenor, D. P. AU - Shipway, B. J. AU - Hill, A. A. AU - Wilkinson, J. M. AU - Elsaesser, G. S. PY - 2018 TI - Aerosol-mid-latitude cyclone indirect effects in observations and high-resolution simulations JA - Atmos. Chem. Phys. JO - Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics VL - 18 SP - 5821 EP - 5846 DO - 10.5194/acp-18-5821-2018 ER -
[ Close ]
