Cloud Particle Properties And Profile Measurements

Measurements > Atmosphere > Cloud particle properties and profile
A key to climate modelling is to observe and understand the global distribution of clouds, their physical properties, such as thickness and droplet size. Whether a particular cloud will heat or cool the Earth’s surface depends on the cloud’s radiating temperature – and thus its height – and on its albedo for both visible and infrared radiation, which depends on the number and details of the cloud properties.
Detailed MeasurementDescriptionInstrumentsTimeline
Cloud drop effective radiusSize distribution of liquid water drops, assimilated to spheres of the same volume. Considered as both a 3D field throughout the troposphere and a 2D field at the top of the cloud surface - Measuring Units μm, Uncertainty Units μm
9 instruments
Timeline for Cloud drop effective radius
Cloud ice (column/profile)Vertical profile of atmospheric water in the liquid phase (precipitating or not). Measured in the troposphere (assumed height: 12 km), and as total column - Physical unit: profile [ g/kg ], total column [g/m2] - Accuracy unit: profile [ % ], total column [g/m2].
7 instruments
Timeline for Cloud ice (column/profile)
Cloud ice content (at cloud top)Vertical profile of the size distribution of ice particles, assimilated to spheres of the same volume. Requested in the troposphere (assumed height: 12 km), and at the cloud top surface - Physical unit: [ mm ] - Accuracy unit: [ mm ].
6 instruments
Timeline for Cloud ice content (at cloud top)
Cloud ice effective radius (column/profile)Area weighted mean radius of the cloud droplets.
3 instruments
Timeline for Cloud ice effective radius (column/profile)
Cloud liquid water (column/profile)Vertical profile of atmospheric water in the liquid phase (precipitating or not). Requested in the troposphere (assumed height: 12 km), and as total column - Physical unit: profile [ g/kg ], total column [kg/m2] - Accuracy unit: profile [ % ], total column [kg/m2].
24 instruments
Timeline for Cloud liquid water (column/profile)
Cloud optical depthImpact of the cloud water column on radiation propagation - Physical unit: [ dimensionless ] - Accuracy unit: [ % ].
16 instruments
Timeline for Cloud optical depth
Precipitation Profile (liquid or solid)Vertical profile of the precipitation rate - Physical unit: [ g×s-1×m-2 ] (vertical flux of precipitation water mass) - Accuracy unit: [ % ].
13 instruments
Timeline for Precipitation Profile (liquid or solid)