Kinematic Study of Layered Clouds using Scanning Cloud Radar Observations

Clouds play a critical role in the Earth's climate system. In the present work, we center our analysis on the spatial and temporal characteristics of non-precipitating warm layered clouds. We capitalize on in-cloud measurements of Doppler Spectral Width data collected by the Scanning ARM Cloud Radars (SACRs) at ARM fixed and mobile sites. The dominant contribution of the different effects affecting the Spectral Width is analyzed allowing us to estimate the role of horizontal wind and turbulence in cloud evolution. Here, the role of horizontal wind shear in the mixing of cloudy and environmental air at different cloud heights will be shown. Furthermore, in cases of homogeneous turbulence an estimate of the eddy dissipation rate via Doppler spectral width is possible, calculations of it, as well as a validation of our methodology will presented.