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2014 ; 111
(51
): 18156-61
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Impact of Antarctic mixed-phase clouds on climate
#MMPMID25489069
Lawson RP
; Gettelman A
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
2014[Dec]; 111
(51
): 18156-61
PMID25489069
show ga
Precious little is known about the composition of low-level clouds over the
Antarctic Plateau and their effect on climate. In situ measurements at the South
Pole using a unique tethered balloon system and ground-based lidar reveal a much
higher than anticipated incidence of low-level, mixed-phase clouds (i.e.,
consisting of supercooled liquid water drops and ice crystals). The high
incidence of mixed-phase clouds is currently poorly represented in global climate
models (GCMs). As a result, the effects that mixed-phase clouds have on climate
predictions are highly uncertain. We modify the National Center for Atmospheric
Research (NCAR) Community Earth System Model (CESM) GCM to align with the new
observations and evaluate the radiative effects on a continental scale. The net
cloud radiative effects (CREs) over Antarctica are increased by +7.4 Wm(-2), and
although this is a significant change, a much larger effect occurs when the
modified model physics are extended beyond the Antarctic continent. The
simulations show significant net CRE over the Southern Ocean storm tracks, where
recent measurements also indicate substantial regions of supercooled liquid.
These sensitivity tests confirm that Southern Ocean CREs are strongly sensitive
to mixed-phase clouds colder than -20 °C.
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