Cloud classification and microphysical properties from multi-sensor retrievals

The expedition focused on processes related to cloud formation in the summer Arctic and included observations of marine biology and chemistry, atmospheric chemistry, physical oceanography, aerosol chemistry and physics, and meteorology. This ASCOS data set includes multi-sensor retrievals of cloud type and microphysical properties.

Input data streams for deriving cloud properties include: Millimeter wavelength cloud radar Doppler moments, dual-channel microwave radiometer retrievals of cloud liquid water path, ceilometer measurements of cloud base height, and radiosonde temperature profiles. Phase-specific signatures in each of the measurements are used to classify all clouds observed vertically by this instrument suite as ice, liquid, mixed-phase, or precipitating.