Abstract
The cloud type product 2B-CLDCLASS-LIDAR based on CloudSat and CALIPSO from June 2006 to May 2017 is used to examine the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics and interannual variability of eight cloud types (high cloud, altostratus, altocumulus, stratus, stratocumulus, cumulus, nimbostratus, and deep convection) and three phases (ice, mixed, and water) in the Arctic. Possible reasons for the observed interannual variability are also discussed. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) More water clouds occur on the Atlantic side, and more ice clouds occur over continents. (2) The average spatial and seasonal distributions of cloud types show three patterns: high clouds and most cumuliform clouds are concentrated in low-latitude locations and peak in summer; altostratus and nimbostratus are concentrated over and around continents and are less abundant in summer; stratocumulus and stratus are concentrated near the inner Arctic and peak during spring and autumn. (3) Regional averaged interannual frequencies of ice clouds and altostratus clouds significantly decrease, while those of water clouds, altocumulus, and cumulus clouds increase significantly. (4) Significant features of the linear trends of cloud frequencies are mainly located over ocean areas. (5) The monthly water cloud frequency anomalies are positively correlated with air temperature in most of the troposphere, while those for ice clouds are negatively correlated. (6) The decrease in altostratus clouds is associated with the weakening of the Arctic front due to Arctic warming, while increased water vapor transport into the Arctic and higher atmospheric instability lead to more cumulus and altocumulus clouds.
摘 要
本文基于CloudSat和CALIPSO卫星的2B-CLDCLASS-LIDAR云分类产品(2006年7月-2017年5月),对北极地区云的八种分类(高云、高层云、高积云、层云、层积云、积云、雨层云、深对流)和三种相态(冰相、液相、混合相)出现频率的时空分布特征进行统计研究,并对不同类型和相态云出现频率的年际变化成因进行了讨论。主要结论如下:(1) 液相云更多分布在北极地区偏大西洋一侧,而冰相云更多分布在大陆上。(2) 不同类型云的平均空间分布和季节分布可被归纳为三种模态:高云和多种积状云集中在北极偏低纬度地区和夏季;高层云和雨层云集中在大陆及其周边地区,在夏季出现最少;层积云和层云集中在北极内侧,在春季和秋季出现最多。(3) 在区域平均云频率的年际变化方面,冰相云和高层云呈现出显著减少趋势,而液相云、高积云和积云显著增加。(4) 具有云频率年际变化显著线性趋势的数据点主要分布在洋面上。(5) 液相云频率逐月异常序列在对流层内大部分高度上与气温呈正相关,而冰相云与气温负相关。(6) 高层云的减少与北极变暖和北极锋的减弱有关,而北极地区水汽输送增加和大气不稳定度加剧导致积云和高积云增多。
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Acknowledgements
This research was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 42105127), the Special Research Assistant Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the National Key Research and Development Plans of China (Grant Nos. 2019YFC1510304 and 2016YFE0201900-02).
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Article Highlights
• Analysis of cloud phases in the Arctic (June 2006–May 2017) show that ice clouds decreased significantly, while water clouds increased significantly.
• Analysis of cloud types shows that altostratus and high clouds significantly decreased, while altocumulus and cumulus clouds significantly increased.
• The air temperature is positively correlated with the monthly water cloud frequency anomalies, while it is negatively correlated with ice clouds.
• The decrease in altostratus and increase in altocumulus can be explained by the weakening of the Arctic front.
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Sun, Y., Yang, H., Xiao, H. et al. The Spatiotemporal Distribution Characteristics of Cloud Types and Phases in the Arctic Based on CloudSat and CALIPSO Cloud Classification Products. Adv. Atmos. Sci. 41, 310–324 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-023-2231-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-023-2231-6