Amazonian cloud microphysical properties lifecycle and interactions with aerosols

• Grant number: 14/21189-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: January 02, 2015
• End date: August 01, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Meteorology
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Augusto Toledo Machado
• Grantee: Micael Amore Cecchini
• Supervisor: Manfred Wendisch
• Host Institution: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Leipzig University, Germany
• Associated to the scholarship: 14/08615-7 - Precipitation formation processes: a study about microphysics, aerosols interactions and cloud life cycle using radar and airplane data, BP.DR

Abstract

The main objective of this proposal is to analyze cloud particle size distributions (PSDs - both liquid droplets and ice particles) of Amazonian convective systems in several altitudes and life-time stages. The HALO aircraft was deployed in Manaus-AM - Brazil as part of the ACRIDICON/CHUVA experiment, carrying out measurements of aerosol particles, cloud microphysics, trace gases and radiation. The cloud probes will be used for the PSD analysis and some aerosol information will be necessary for the identification of polluted and pristine conditions. The PSD data will be analyzed with Gamma parameterization procedures, which consists of fitting 3-parameter curves to each observation. The dataset of the 3-parameters for large amounts of measurements will be used to define the Gamma space, which represents the observable PSD variability. This space will be used to highlight several properties of the convective systems, for example their vertical structure and hydrometeor growth characteristics. Also, this space can potentially be used to differentiate single convective systems by locating them in different regions. If different PSDs are located in different regions of the Gamma space, the aerosol effect may also be observable with this methodology, especially for the cloud droplets study. This project will be developed under Dr. Manfred Wendisch guidance in Leipzig - Germany, during a 7 month long visit. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CECCHINI, MICAEL A.; MACHADO, LUIZ A. T.; WENDISCH, MANFRED; COSTA, ANJA; KRAEMER, MARTINA; ANDREAE, MEINRAT O.; AFCHINE, ARMIN; ALBRECHT, RACHEL I.; ARTAXO, PAULO; BORRMANN, STEPHAN; et al. Illustration of microphysical processes in Amazonian deep convective clouds in the gamma phase space: introduction and potential applications. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, v. 17, n. 23, p. 14727-14746, DEC 11 2017. (15/14497-0, 14/21189-7, 14/08615-7, 09/15235-8)

ANDREAE, MEINRAT O.; AFCHINE, ARMIN; ALBRECHT, RACHEL; HOLANDA, BRUNA AMORIM; ARTAXO, PAULO; BARBOSA, HENRIQUE M. J.; BORRMANN, STEPHAN; CECCHINI, MICAEL A.; COSTA, ANJA; DOLLNER, MAXIMILIAN; et al. Aerosol characteristics and particle production in the upper troposphere over the Amazon Basin. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, v. 18, n. 2, p. 921-961, JAN 25 2018. (14/21189-7, 14/08615-7)

CECCHINI, MICAEL A.; MACHADO, LUIZ A. T.; ANDREAE, MEINRAT O.; MARTIN, SCOT T.; ALBRECHT, RACHEL I.; ARTAXO, PAULO; BARBOSA, HENRIQUE M. J.; BORRMANN, STEPHAN; FUETTERER, DANIEL; JURKAT, TINA; et al. Sensitivities of Amazonian clouds to aerosols and updraft speed. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, v. 17, n. 16, p. 10037-10050, AUG 28 2017. (14/21189-7, 13/05014-0, 14/08615-7, 09/15235-8)