Satellite retrieval of cloud condensation nuclei concentrations by using clouds as CCN chambers

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Rosenfeld, Daniel ; Zheng, Youtong ; Hashimshoni, Eyal ; Poehlker, Mira L. ; Jefferson, Anne ; Poehlker, Christopher ; Yu, Xing ; Zhu, Yannian ; Liu, Guihua ; Yue, Zhiguo ; Fischman, Baruch ; Li, Zhanqing ; Giguzin, David ; Goren, Tom ; Artaxo, Paulo ; Barbosa, Henrique M. J. ; Poeschl, Ulrich ; Andreae, Meinrat O.

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; v. 113, n. 21, p. 7-pg., 2016-05-24.

Resumo

Quantifying the aerosol/cloud-mediated radiative effect at a global scale requires simultaneous satellite retrievals of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentrations and cloud base updraft velocities (W-b). Hitherto, the inability to do so has been a major cause of high uncertainty regarding anthropogenic aerosol/cloud-mediated radiative forcing. This can be addressed by the emerging capability of estimating CCN and W-b of boundary layer convective clouds from an operational polar orbiting weather satellite. Our methodology uses such clouds as an effective analog for CCN chambers. The cloud base supersaturation (S) is determined by W-b and the satellite-retrieved cloud base drop concentrations (N-db), which is the same as CCN(S). Validation against ground-based CCN instruments at Oklahoma, at Manaus, and onboard a ship in the northeast Pacific showed a retrieval accuracy of +/- 25% to +/- 30% for individual satellite overpasses. The methodology is presently limited to boundary layer not raining convective clouds of at least 1 km depth that are not obscured by upper layer clouds, including semi-transparent cirrus. The limitation for small solar backscattering angles of < 25 degrees restricts the satellite coverage to similar to 25% of the world area in a single day. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 13/50510-5 - Pesquisa colaborativa Brasil-EUA: modificações causadas pela poluição antrópica na química da atmosfera e na microfísica de partículas da floresta tropical durante as campanhas intensivas do GoAmazon
• Beneficiário: Henrique de Melo Jorge Barbosa
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Programa de Pesquisa sobre Mudanças Climáticas Globais - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 13/05014-0 - GoAmazon: interação da pluma urbana de Manaus com emissões biogênicas da Floresta Amazônica
• Beneficiário: Paulo Eduardo Artaxo Netto
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Programa de Pesquisa sobre Mudanças Climáticas Globais - Temático