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At least 217 records · Page 12

Measurements of atmospheric dimethylsulfide, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon disulfide during GTE/CITE 3

Measurements of atmospheric dimethylsulfide (DMS), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and carbon disulfide (CS2) were made over the North and South Atlantic Ocean as part of the Global Tropospheric Experiment/Chemical Instrumentation Test and Evaluation (GTE/CITE 3) project. DMS and CS2 samples were collected and analyzed using an automated gas chromatography/flame photometric detection system with a sampling frequency of 10 min. H2S samples were collected using silver nitrate impregnated filters and analyzed by fluorescence quenching. The DMS data from both hemispheres have a bimodal distribution. Over the North Atlantic this reflects the difference between marine and continental air masses. Over the South Atlantic it may reflect differences in the sea surface source of DMS, corresponding to different air mass source regions. The median boundary layer H2S and CS2 levels were significantly higher in the northern hemisphere than the southern hemisphere, reflecting the higher frequency of samples influenced by pollutant and/or coastal emissions. Composite vertical profiles of DMS and H2S are similar to each other, are consistent with a sea surface source. Vertical profiles of CS2 have maxima in the free troposphere, implicating a continental source. The low levels of H2S and CS2 found in the southern hemisphere constrain the role of these compounds in global budgets to significantly less than previously estimated.

Cooper, David J.↗

Assessment of Data Assimilation with the Prototype High Resolution Rapid Refresh for Alaska (HRRRAK)

The Arctic Region Supercomputing Center has been running a quasi-operational prototype of a High Resolution Rapid Refresh for Alaska (HRRRAK) at 3km resolution, initialized by the 13km Rapid Refresh (RR). Although the RR assimilates a broad range of observations into its analyses, experiments with the HRRRAK suggest that there may be added value in assimilating observations into the 3km initial conditions, downscaled from the 13km RR analyses. The NASA Short-term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) group has been using assimilated data from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) in WRF and WRF-Var simulations since 2004 with promising results. The sounder is aboard NASA s Aqua satellite, and provides vertical profiles of temperature and humidity. The Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI) system is then used to assimilate these vertical profiles into WRF forecasts. In this work, we assess the use of AIRS data in combination with other global data assimilation products on non-assimilated HRRRAK case studies. Two separate weather events will be assessed to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the impacts of AIRS data on HRRRAK forecasts.

Harrison, Kayla↗

Assessment of Data Assimilation with the Prototype High Resolution Rapid Refresh for Alaska (HRRRAK)

The Arctic Region Supercomputing Center has been running a quasi-operational prototype of a High Resolution Rapid Refresh for Alaska (HRRRAK) at 3km resolution, initialized by the 13km Rapid Refresh (RR). Although the RR assimilates a broad range of observations into its analyses, experiments with the HRRRAK suggest that there may be added value in assimilating observations into the 3km initial conditions, downscaled from the 13km RR analyses. The NASA Short-term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) group has been using assimilated data from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) in WRF and WRF-Var simulations since 2004 with promising results. The sounder is aboard NASA s Aqua satellite, and provides vertical profiles of temperature and humidity. The Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI) system is then used to assimilate these vertical profiles into WRF forecasts. In this work, we assess the use of AIRS data in combination with other global data assimilation products on non-assimilated HRRRAK case studies. Two separate weather events will be assessed to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the impacts of AIRS data on HRRRAK forecasts.

Harrison, Kayla↗

Sensitivity Analysis for Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) CO2 Retrieval

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) is a thermal infrared sensor able to retrieve the daily atmospheric state globally for clear as well as partially cloudy field-of-views. The AIRS spectrometer has 2378 channels sensing from 15.4 micrometers to 3.7 micrometers, of which a small subset in the 15 micrometers region has been selected, to date, for CO2 retrieval. To improve upon the current retrieval method, we extended the retrieval calculations to include a prior estimate component and developed a channel ranking system to optimize the channels and number of channels used. The channel ranking system uses a mathematical formalism to rapidly process and assess the retrieval potential of large numbers of channels. Implementing this system, we identifed a larger optimized subset of AIRS channels that can decrease retrieval errors and minimize the overall sensitivity to other iridescent contributors, such as water vapor, ozone, and atmospheric temperature. This methodology selects channels globally by accounting for the latitudinal, longitudinal, and seasonal dependencies of the subset. The new methodology increases accuracy in AIRS CO2 as well as other retrievals and enables the extension of retrieved CO2 vertical profiles to altitudes ranging from the lower troposphere to upper stratosphere. The extended retrieval method for CO2 vertical profile estimation using a maximum-likelihood estimation method. We use model data to demonstrate the beneficial impact of the extended retrieval method using the new channel ranking system on CO2 retrieval.

sensitivity analysis↗

What does reflection from cloud sides tell us about vertical distribution of cloud droplets?

In order to accurately measure the interaction of clouds with aerosols, we have to resolve the vertical distribution of cloud droplet sizes and determine the temperature of glaciation for clean and polluted clouds. Knowledge of the droplet vertical profile is also essential for understanding precipitation. So far, all existing satellites either measure cloud microphysics only at cloud top (e.g., MODIS) or give a vertical profile of precipitation sized droplets (e.g., Cloudsat). What if one measures cloud microphysical properties in the vertical by retrieving them from the solar and infrared radiation reflected or emitted from cloud sides? This was the idea behind CLAIM-3D (A 3D - cloud aerosol interaction mission) recently proposed by NASA GSFC. This presentation will focus on the interpretation of the radiation reflected from cloud sides. In contrast to plane-parallel approximation, a conventional approach to all current operational retrievals, 3D radiative transfer will be used for interpreting the observed reflectances. As a proof of concept, we will show a few examples of radiation reflected from cloud fields generated by a simple stochastic cloud model with prescribed microphysics. Instead of fixed values of the retrieved effective radii, the probability density functions of droplet size distributions will serve as possible retrievals.

Marshak, A.↗

An Algorithm to Derive Temperature and Humidity Profile Changes Using Spatially and Temporally Averaged Spectral Radiance Differences

A linear inversion algorithm to derive changes of surface skin temperature and atmospheric temperature and specific humidity vertical profiles using spatially and temporally averaged spectral radiance differences is developed. The algorithm uses spectral radiative kernels, which is the top-of-atmosphere spectral radiance change caused by perturbations of skin temperature and air temperature and specific humidity in the atmosphere, and is an improved version of the algorithm used in earlier studies. Two improvements are the inclusion of the residual and cloud spectral kernels in the form of eigenvectors of principal components. Three and six eigenvectors are used for, respectively, the residual and cloud spectral kernels. An underlying assumption is that the spectral shape of the principal components is constant and their magnitude varies temporally and spatially. The algorithm is tested using synthetic spectral radiances with the spectral range of the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder averaged over 16 days and over a 10° × 10° grid box. Changes of skin temperature, air temperature, and specific humidity vertical profiles are derived from the difference of nadir-view all-sky spectral radiances. The root-mean-square difference of retrieved and true skin temperature differences is 0.59 K. The median of absolute errors in the air temperature change is less than 0.5 K above 925 hPa. The median of absolute errors in the relative specific humidity changes is less than 10% above 825 hPa.

Fang Pan↗

The vertical distribution of soluble gases in the troposphere

The thermodynamic properties of several water-soluble gases are reviewed to determine the likely effect of the atmospheric water cycle on their vertical profiles. It is found that gaseous HCl, HNO3, and HBr are sufficiently soluble in water to suggest that their vertical profiles in the troposphere have a similar shape to that of water vapor. It is predicted that HCl, HNO3, and HBr exhibit a steep negative gradient with altitude roughly equal to the altitude gradient of water vapor. Therefore, ground-based sources of inorganic chlorine, odd nitrogen, and inorganic bromine compounds are not likely to affect the stratosphere directly in the mean. Calculations also show that while SO2 and NH3 are significantly affected by the atmospheric water cycle, their abundances may not decrease with altitude as rapidly as does that of water vapor.

Stedman, D. H.↗

Spread of denitrification from 1987 Antarctic and 1988-1989 Arctic stratospheric vortices

Vertical profiles of N2O and NO(y) taken by the ER-2 outside the vortex are used to construct average vertical profiles of F(NO(y)) = NO(y)/(A-N2O), where A is the tropospheric content of N2O three years prior to the measurements. The southern hemisphere had less nitrous oxide in the range 400 less than Theta less than 470 K, by up to 25% relative to the northern hemisphere. F(NO(y)) is the ratio of NOy produced to N2O lost in a stratospheric air mass since entry from the troposphere. The profiles of F(NO(y)) have the following characteristics: (1) Relative to 1991-1992, a year without denitrification inside or outside the vortex, the northern hemisphere in 1988-1989 showed denitrification outside the vortex ranging up to 25% and averaging 17% above Theta = 425 K. (2) Relative to the northern hemisphere in 1991-1992, the southern hemisphere in 1987 showed denitrification outside the vortex ranging up to 32% and averaging 20% above Theta = 400 K. (3) Below Theta = 400 K the southern hemisphere showed enhancements of F(NO(y)) relative to the northern hemisphere in 1991-1992 ranging up to 200% at Theta = 375 K, outside the vortex. Corresponding profiles of residual water, R(H2O) = H2O - 2(1.6 - CH4), are considered and shown to be consistent with those of F(NO(y)) in the sense that they show deficits outside the Antarctic vortex, which was both dehydrated and denitrified, but not outside the 1988-1989 Arctic vortex, which was denitrified but not dehydrated. R(H2O) is the water content of stratospheric air with the contribution from methane oxidation subtracted. Comparison of F(NO(y)) and R(H2O) below 400 K outside the Antarctic vortex leads to the suggetion that dehydration in the Antarctic vortex occurs by the sedimentation of ice crystals large enough to fall out of the stratosphere, whereas denitrification occurs mainly on mixed nitric acid-water crystals which evaporate below the base of the vortex at Theta = 400 K but above the tropopause.

Tuck, A. F.↗

Explore Information Content Efficiently from Current and Future Hyperspectral Satellite Missions using a Spectral Fingerprinting Method

Hyperspectral remote sensors from current and future missions provide measurements of the Top of Atmosphere (TOA) radiance or reflectance spectra with high information content. For example, the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), together with the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), and the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) have provided more than 20 years radiance measurements with thousands of spectral channels. These measurements will be continued for the next two decades with the same or more advanced hyperspectral sensors. The upcoming missions such as NASA’s CLARREO Pathfinder (CPF) and ESA’s TRUTHS will provide unprecedented accurate TOA hyperspectral radiance measurements in solar spectral region. Traditional ways to derive Climate Data Records (CDRs) from these measurements are performing spatial and temporal averages of the retrieved Level-2 products. However, it is a time-consuming process to generate decades of Level-2 data from Level-1 data. Furthermore, the differences in Level-2 algorithms used for different satellite sensors will introduce errors in derived CDRs. In this presentation, we will describe a spectral fingerprinting method to generate high-quality CDRs directly from spatiotemporally averaged Level-1 data. By using consistent radiative kernels which contain the spectral information of various atmospheric and surface CDRs, we can reduce the errors due to algorithm inconsistency. Additionally, the spectral fingerprinting method reduces the time needed to generate CDRs by more than three orders of magnitude. This makes it easy to reprocess CDRs once the Level-1 data from different satellites have been improved via either re-calibrations or inter-satellite calibrations. We will present results of applying spectral fingerprinting method to 20-years of AIRS and CrIS data. The resulting CDRs include: 1) vertical profiles of atmospheric temperature and water vapor, 2) cloud properties such as optical depth, effective size, and height, 3) vertical profiles or column amounts for atmospheric trace gases such as O3 and CO, and 4) surface emissivity spectra and skin temperatures. These CDRs will be publicly available at NASA GES DISC in late 2024. The same fingerprinting method is planned to be applied to future CPF and TRUTHS data for solar spectral region.

hyperspectral remote sensing↗

The Diurnal Cycle of Cloud Profiles over Land and Ocean Between 51degS and 51degN, Seen by the CATS Spaceborne Lidar from the International Space Station

We document, for the first time, how detailed vertical profiles of cloud fraction (CF) change diurnally between 51 deg S and 51 deg N, by taking advantage of 15 months of measurements from the Cloud-Aerosol Transport System (CATS) lidar on the non-sun-synchronous International Space Station (ISS). Over the tropical ocean in summer, we find few high clouds during daytime. At night they become frequent over a large altitude range (11-16 km between 22:00 and 04:00 LT). Over the summer tropical continents, but not over ocean, CATS observations reveal mid-level clouds (4-8 km above sea level or a.s.l.) persisting all day long, with a weak diurnal cycle (minimum at noon). Over the Southern Ocean, diurnal cycles appear for the omnipresent low-level clouds (minimum between noon and 15:00) and high-altitude clouds (minimum between 08:00 and 14:00). Both cycles are time shifted, with high-altitude clouds following the changes in low-altitude clouds by several hours. Over all continents at all latitudes during summer, the low-level clouds develop upwards and reach a maximum occurrence at about 2.5 km a.s.l. in the early afternoon (around 14:00). Our work also shows that (1) the diurnal cycles of vertical profiles derived from CATS are consistent with those from ground-based active sensors on a local scale, (2) the cloud profiles derived from CATS measurements at local times of 01:30 and 13:30 are consistent with those observed from CALIPSO at similar times, and (3) the diurnal cycles of low and high cloud amounts (CAs) derived from CATS are in general in phase with those derived from geostationary imagery but less pronounced. Finally, the diurnal variability of cloud profiles revealed by CATS strongly suggests that CALIPSO measurements at 01:30 and 13:30 document the daily extremes of the cloud fraction profiles over ocean and are more representative of daily averages over land, except at altitudes above 10 km where they capture part of the diurnal variability. These findings are applicable to other instruments with local overpass times similar to CALIPSO's, such as all the other A-Train instruments and the future Earth-CARE mission.

Noel, Vincent↗

Similarity theory of the buoyantly interactive planetary boundary layer with entrainment

A similarity model is developed for the vertical profiles of turbulent flow variables in an entraining turbulent boundary layer of arbitrary buoyant stability. In the general formulation the vertical profiles, internal rotation of the velocity vector, discontinuities or jumps at a capping inversion and bulk aerodynamic coefficients of the boundary layer are given by solutions to a system of ordinary differential equations in the similarity variable. To close the system, a formulation for buoyantly interactive eddy diffusivity in the boundary layer is introduced which recovers Monin-Obukhov similarity near the surface and incorporates a hypothesis accounting for the observed variation of mixing length throughout the boundary layer. The model is tested in simplified versions which depend only on roughness, surface buoyancy, and Coriolis effects by comparison with planetary-boundary-layer wind- and temperature-profile observations, measurements of flat-plate boundary layers in a thermally stratified wind tunnel and observations of profiles of terms in the turbulent kinetic-energy budget of convective planetary boundary layers. On balance, the simplified model reproduced the trend of these various observations and experiments reasonably well, suggesting that the full similarity formulation be pursued further.

Hoffert, M. I.↗

The importance of mesoscale circulations generated by subgrid-scale landscape heterogeneities in general circulation models

A mesoscale atmospheric model was used to evaluate the impact of subgrid-scale landscape discontinuities on the vertical profiles of resolved temperature, moisture, and moist static energy in the planetary boundary layer (PBL) of general circulation models (GCMs). These profiles were produced with a 3D version of the model (using a horizontal grid resolution of 7.5 km and 13 vertical layers in the PBL) by averaging horizontally the various atmospheric variables over a 180 x 180 sq km domain-about the size of the horizontal domain represented by a single grid element in a GCM. They were compared to corresponding vertical profiles produced with a 1D version of the model, which simulates the PBL, as in a GCM, over a single horizontal grid element. Differences obtained between the horizontally averaged atmospheric variables produced with the 3D simulations and the 1D simulations emphasize the impact of subgrid-scale landscape discontinuities on GCM-resolved variables. Various types of landscape discontinuities, characterized by horizontal contrasts of surface wetness and size of land patches, were simulated under various background-wind conditions. Differences of temperature, specific humidity, and moist static energy as large as 4 K, 6 g/kg, and 10 kJ/kg were obtained in some cases. These differences were not affected significantly by moderate winds but were sensitive to the spatial distribution of surface wetness. These results emphasize the need to parameterize mesoscale processes induced by landscape discontinuities in GCMss.

Lynn, Barry H.↗

LASE measurements of aerosols and water vapor during TARFOX

The TARFOX (Tropospheric Aerosol Radiative Forcing Observational Experiment) intensive field campaign was designed to reduce uncertainties in estimates of the effects of anthropogenic aerosols on climate by measuring direct radiative effects and the optical, physical, and chemical properties of aerosols [1]. TARFOX was conducted off the East Coast of the United States between July 10-31, 1996. Ground, aircraft, and satellite-based sensors measured the sensitivity of radiative fields at various atmospheric levels to aerosol optical properties (i.e., optical thickness, phase function, single-scattering albedo) and to the vertical profile of aerosols. The LASE (Lidar Atmospheric Sensing Experiment) instrument, which was flown on the NASA ER-2 aircraft, measured vertical profiles of total scattering ratio and water vapor during a series of 9 flights. These profiles were used in real-time to help direct the other aircraft to the appropriate altitudes for intensive sampling of aerosol layers. We have subsequently used the LASE aerosol data to derive aerosol backscattering and extinction profiles. Using these aerosol extinction profiles, we derived estimates of aerosol optical thickness (AOT) and compared these with measurements of AOT from both ground and airborne sun photometers and derived from the ATSR-2 (Along Track and Scanning Radiometer 2) sensor on ERS-2 (European Remote Sensing Satellite-2). We also used the water vapor mixing ratio profiles measured simultaneously by LASE to derive precipitable water vapor and compare these to ground based measurements.

Ferrare, Richard A.↗

Updated Results for the Wake Vortex Inverse Model

NorthWest Research Associates (NWRA) has developed an Inverse Model for inverting aircraft wake vortex data. The objective of the inverse modeling is to obtain estimates of the vortex circulation decay and crosswind vertical profiles, using time history measurements of the lateral and vertical position of aircraft vortices. The Inverse Model performs iterative forward model runs using estimates of vortex parameters, vertical crosswind profiles, and vortex circulation as a function of wake age. Iterations are performed until a user-defined criterion is satisfied. Outputs from an Inverse Model run are the best estimates of the time history of the vortex circulation derived from the observed data, the vertical crosswind profile, and several vortex parameters. The forward model, named SHRAPA, used in this inverse modeling is a modified version of the Shear-APA model, and it is described in Section 2 of this document. Details of the Inverse Model are presented in Section 3. The Inverse Model was applied to lidar-observed vortex data at three airports: FAA acquired data from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Denver International Airport (DEN), and NASA acquired data from Memphis International Airport (MEM). The results are compared with observed data. This Inverse Model validation is documented in Section 4. A summary is given in Section 5. A user's guide for the inverse wake vortex model is presented in a separate NorthWest Research Associates technical report (Lai and Delisi, 2007a).

Robins, Robert E.↗

Reduction and analysis of seasons 15 and 16 (1991 - 1992) Pioneer Venus radio occulation data and correlative studies with observations of the near infrared emission of Venus

In this study, we sought to characterize variations in the abundance and distribution of subcloud H2SO4(g) in the Venus atmosphere by using a number of 13cm radio occultation measurements conducted with the Pioneer Venus Orbiter near the inferior conjunction of 1991. A total of ten data sets were examined and analyzed, producing vertical profiles of temperature and pressure in the neutral atmosphere, and sulfuric acid vapor abundance below the main cloud layer. Two of the vertical profiles of the abundance of H2SO4(g) were correlated with NIR images of the night side of Venus made during the same period of time by Boris Ragent (under a separate PVO Guest Investigator Grant). Initially, we had hoped that the combination of these two different types of data would make it possible to constrain or identify the composition of the large particles causing the features observed in the NIR images. However, the sparseness of the radio occultation data set, combined with the sparseness of the NIR data set (one image per day over an 8 day period) made it impossible to draw strong conclusions. Considered on their own, however, the parameters retrieved from the radio occultation experiments are valuable science products.

Jenkins, Jon M.↗

Three-Dimensional Distribution of a Major Desert Dust Outbreak over East Asia in March 2008 Derived from IASI Satellite Observations

We describe the daily evolution of the three-dimensional (3D) structure of a major dust outbreak initiated by an extratropical cyclone over East Asia in early March 2008, using new aerosol retrievals derived from satellite observations of IASI (Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer). A novel auto-adaptive Tikhonov-Phillips-type approach called AEROIASI is used to retrieve vertical profiles of dust extinction coefficient at 10 microns for most cloud-free IASI pixels, both over land and ocean. The dust vertical distribution derived from AEROIASI is shown to agree remarkably well with along-track transects of Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) spaceborne lidar vertical profiles (mean biases less than 110 meters, correlation of 0.95, and precision of 260 meters for mean altitudes of the dust layers). AEROIASI allows the daily characterization of the 3D transport pathways across East Asia of two dust plumes originating from the Gobi and North Chinese deserts. From AEROIASI retrievals, we provide evidence that (i) both dust plumes are transported over the Beijing region and the Yellow Sea as elevated layers above a shallow boundary layer, (ii) as they progress eastward, the dust layers are lifted up by the ascending motions near the core of the extratropical cyclone, and (iii) when being transported over the warm waters of the Japan Sea, turbulent mixing in the deep marine boundary layer leads to high dust concentrations down to the surface. AEROIASI observations and model simulations also show that the progression of the dust plumes across East Asia is tightly related to the advancing cold front of the extratropical cyclone.

Cuesta, Juan↗

The Cloudsat Mission and the EOS Constellation: A New Dimension of Space-Based Observation of Clouds and Precipitation

CloudSat is a satellite experiment designed to measure the vertical structure of clouds from space. The expected launch of CloudSat is planned for 2004 and, once launched, CloudSat will orbit in formation as part of a constellation of satellites including NASA's Aqua and Aura satellites, a NASA-CNES lidar satellite (P-C) and a CNES satellite carrying a polarimeter (PARASOL). A unique feature that CloudSat brings to this constellation is the ability to fly a precise orbit enabling the fields of view of the CloudSat radar to be overlapped with the P-C lidar footprint and the other measurements of the EOS constellation. The precision of this overlap creates a unique multi-satellite observing system for studying the atmospheric processes essential to the hydrological cycle. The vertical profile of cloud properties provided by CloudSat fills a critical gap in the investigation of feedback mechanisms linking clouds to climate. Measuring the vertical profile of cloud properties requires a combination of active and passive instruments, and this will be achieved by combining the radar data of CloudSat with active and passive data from other sensors of the constellation. This paper describes the underpinning science, and gives an overview of the mission, and provides some idea of the expected products and anticipated application of these products. Notably, the CloudSat mission is expected to provide new knowledge about global cloudiness, stimulating new areas of research on clouds including data assimilation and cloud parameterization. The mission also provides an important opportunity to demonstrate active sensor technology for future scientific and tactical applications. The CloudSat mission is a partnership between NASA/JPL, the Canadian Space Agency, Colorado State University, the US Air Force, and the US Department of Energy.

Stephens, Graeme L.↗

Cirrus Clouds Optical, Microphysical and Radiative Properties Observed During Crystal-Face Experiment: I. A Radar-Lidar Retrieval System

A method of retrieving cloud microphysical properties using combined observations from both cloud radar and lidar is introduced. This retrieval makes use of an improvement to the traditional optimal estimation retrieval method, whereby a series of corrections are applied to the state vector during the search for an iterative solution. This allows faster convergence to a solution and is less processor intensive. The method is first applied to a synthetic cloud t o demonstrate its validity, and it is shown that the retrieval reliably reproduces vertical profiles of ice water content. The retrieval method is then applied to radar and lidar observations from the CRYSTAL-FACE experiment, and vertical profiles of ice crystal diameter, number concentration, and ice water content are retrieved for a cirrus cloud layers observed one day of that experiment. The validity of the relationship between visible extinction coefficient and radar reflectivity was examined. While synthetic tests showed such a functional relationship, the measured data only partially supported such a conclusion. This is due to errors in the forward model (as explained above) as well as errors in the data sets, including possible mismatch between lidar and radar profiles or errors in the optical depth. Empirical relationships between number concentrations and mean particle diameter were also examined. The results indicate that a distinct and robust relationship exists between these retrieved quantities and it is argued that such a relationship is more than an artifact of the retrieval process offering insight into the nature of the microphysical processes taking place in cirrus.

Mitrescu, C.↗