92nd American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting (January 22-26, 2012)

Tuesday, 24 January 2012: 2:45 PM
Comparison of Microphysical Cloud Properties From the FSSP and CDP During CAMPS Field Campaign
Room 244 (New Orleans Convention Center )
Aaron J. Pina, NCAR, Boulder, CO; and A. G. Hallar, V. Salazar, and G. Chirokova

The FSSP (Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe) has been the most widely used instrument to measure cloud microphysical characteristics for over 3 decades. In the last decade, the CDP (Cloud Droplet Probe), a new instrument measuring similar characteristics as the FSSP, was introduced to address mechanical issues the FSSP experienced (e.g. ice shattering). Understanding and accurately sampling microphysical cloud properties for orographic-forced mixed-phase is of crucial importance for an enhanced representation of mixed-phase clouds in global climate models. In current work, in-situ cloud data from January 9, 2011 of the CAMPS (Colorado Airborne Multi-Phase Cloud Study) field campaign were used to compare measurements by the FSSP and CDP. For all cloud penetrations considered, the FSSP measured a mean concentration of 131.66 cm-3 while the CDP measured a mean concentration of 110.89 cm-3. From calibration data, the CDP showed to undersize cloud particles. Our results show concentrations measured by the FSSP and CDP, in general, do not agree in clouds comprised mostly of ice. In conclusion, on the considered day, data from the FSSP were significantly affected by ice particle shattering while the CDP undersized particles by 2-3.5 μm.

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