Global Distribution of Different Cloud Phases and Their Radiative Contributions from A-Train Satellite Retrievals

Abstract:

The global distribution of cloud thermodynamic phase (that is, ice-, mixed-, warm liquid-, and supercooled liquid- phase) and their radiative contributions are presented derived from Cloudsat 2B-CLDCLASS-Lidar, 2B-FLXHR-LIDAR and ECMWF-AUX products. The results show that the cloud fraction of warm liquid phase is dominated only over the tropical oceans between 30°N and 30°S and ice-phase clouds are very frequent over the continents and mid-latitude oceans. Supercooled liquid- and mixed phase clouds only locate at the mid- and high- latitudes region. In addition, the relationship between cloud phase and environment parameters (such as, ice nuclei, vertical velocity) is also further discussed. In summary, the radiative contribution of warm water cloud has maximum value (reach -150 W/m²) over the several important Stratocumulus regions (such as, west coasts of North America, South America, and West Africa). However, the radiative contributions of mixed-phase and super-cooled water cloud are not to be neglected over the Southern ocean (between -100 and -150 W/m²), especially the mixed-phased cloud over the west-central Pacific Ocean warm pool. The results highlight the importance of mixed-phase and supercooled water cloud processes for the regional energy cycle and may lead to an improved prediction of climate change by general circulation models.