STUDY OF CLOUD MICROPHYSICAL STRUCTURE WITH CLOUD PROFILING RADAR AND LIDAR: MIRAI CRUISE

摘要

We observed the vertical distribution of clouds over the Pacific Ocean near Japan and also over tropics using lidar and a 95-GHz radar on the Research Vessel Mirai. Cloud analyses derived from observations using cloud mask schemes showed that the radar represented clouds better than the lidar did. The vertical structure of clouds observed with the radar/lidar system was compared to clouds in the aerosol transport model SPRINTARS, which is based on the CCSR-NIES Atmospheric General Circulation Model. The cloud amount, radar reflectivity factor, and lidar backscattering coefficient were simulated by the model and compared to observations using height-time cross-sections. The overall pattern was well reproduced, although the model underestimated (overestimated) mean cloud amount below 2 km (above 8 km). Agreement was best between 2 and 7 km. Cloud microphysics in the model could be validated through comparison of derived model radar and lidar signals with observations.