32nd Conference on Broadcast Meteorology/31st Conference on Radar Meteorology/Fifth Conference on Coastal Atmospheric and Oceanic Prediction and Processes

Thursday, 7 August 2003: 11:15 AM
Turbulence observations in layer clouds
Bruce A. Albrecht, Univ. of Miami/RSMAS, Miami,, FL; and P. Kollias and M. Shupe
Observations of in-cloud turbulence are fundamental to our understanding of the physical processes involved with cloud formation, maintenance and dissipation. Turbulence fluxes within clouds are the indirect result of surface forcing and radiative effects and the direct effects of wind shear. The aim of this paper is to present cloud turbulence measurements in layer clouds obtained from a 94-Ghz Doppler radar. Under conditions of low reflectivity layers the cloud droplets and ice crystals can be used as air motion tracers and the derived radar. Doppler moments contain important turbulence information. Results from the Drizzle and Entrainment Experiment (1999) conducted in the summer of 1999 on Monterey Bay to study marine stratocumulus and CRYSTAL FACE (2002) in South Florida to study cumulus-generated cirrus clouds respectively are presented. Using the radar sampling volume, turbulence retrievals for radar resolved and unresolved scales are presented.

Supplementary URL: