Ice cloud microphysical trends observed by the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder

The trends in ice cloud properties are shown to be independent of trends in information content and chi(2). Statistically significant decreases in ice frequency, tau(i), and ice water path (IWP) are found in the SH and NH extratropics, but trends are of much smaller magnitude and statistically insignificant in the tropics.

However, statistically significant increases in r(ei) are found in all three latitude bands. Perturbation experiments consistent with estimates of AIRS radiometric stability fall significantly short of explaining the observed trends in ice properties, averaging kernels, and chi(2) trends. Values of r(ei) are larger at the tops of opaque clouds and exhibit dependence on surface wind speed, column water vapour (CWV) and surface temperature (T-sfc) with changes up to 4-5 mu m but are only 1.9% of all ice clouds.