Cloud Thermodynamic Phase Distributions Observed by Airborne High Spectral Resolution Lidar

Observing the spatial and temporal distribution of liquid droplets and ice particles within mixed phase clouds is critical to understanding the thermodynamic and radiative properties of clouds and their underlying macro- and microphysical processes. Airborne lidar offers a unique perspective from which to observe the three-dimensional arrangement of liquid- and ice-containing layers within complex mixed phase cloud systems. Here we present airborne lidar data collected across a selection of field campaigns using the NASA Langley Research Center airborne second generation High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL-2) and High-Altitude Lidar Observatory (HALO). Datasets include the Convective Processes Experiment – Cabo Verde (CPEX-CV), the Aerosol Cloud Meteorology Interactions over the Western Atlantic Experiment (ACTIVATE) and the Arctic Radiation Clouds Surface Interactions Experiment (ARCSIX), which collectively encompass tropical maritime, mid-latitude maritime and arctic cloud systems. We present selected cases that include collocation between the airborne lidar flown at high altitude with a second in situ aircraft that provided detailed direct observations of the cloud microphysical properties.