Colloquium, Thursday, Sept. 10, 1 pm, EN6060 (NOTE DIFFERENT DAY/TIME): ical.ics

Over the decades many studies have contributed to our knowledge of cirrus clouds but few campaigns prior to the Cirrus Regional Study of Tropical Anvils and Cirrus Layers – Florida Area Cirrus Experiment (CRYSTAL-FACE) in 2002 have gotten corresponding data from satellite, airborne and ground based remote sensing platforms as well as in situ measurements. The lack of a wide variety of data makes it difficult to presume that our cloud models have been accurate. In order to improve our models to the amount of accuracy we desire, more work must be done so that the generation mechanisms, total area coverage and spacial inhomogeneities of ice water content (IWC) and particle size (Dge) of cirrus anvil clouds are properly assessed. It is necessary to understand the structure and evolution of these clouds over time in order to create accurate model regimes.

Data derived from the ER-2 high altitude duel wavelength radar (DWR) and GOES8 sensor during CRYSTAL-FACE was processed and analyzed. Four separate cells with their corresponding cirrus anvils were studied. Trends were noted in the anvils spacial distribution, water mass, vertical and horizontal microphysical structure using IWC, ice water path (IWP) and Dge profiles over the anvil’s evolution. These trends were compared to environmental components such as convective available potential energy (CAPE), horizontal winds and relative humidity at anvil level.