The main goal of last summer’s NASA Cirrus Regional Study of Tropical Anvils and Cirrus Layers – Florida Area Cirrus Experiment (CRYSTAL-FACE) was to study the evolution and radiative properties of tropical cirrus clouds, which regulate Earth’s climate in ways that are poorly understood. Measurements from NOAA’s WSR 88-D (NEXRAD) weather radar network in South Florida were used to investigate the three-dimensional evolution of the convective systems that produced extensive cirrus anvil clouds.

Gridded radar reflectivity volumes for the 23 July MCS were visualized to illustrate the growth of a thick, extensive anvil region of precipitation-sized hydrometeors emanating from a series of convective cells which formed and decayed on the sea breeze front. Vertical profiles of radar reflectivity in both the convective cell and anvil regions demonstrated a persistent non-precipitating anvil with peak areal coverage at 7 km height. Examples from this and other cases in conjunction with dropsonde data give insight into the growth and longevity of these extensive anvil clouds.

Real-time acquisition of level II South Florida NEXRAD data during CRYSTAL-FACE was achieved through a partnership with NOAA's Project CRAFT.