Understanding Supercooled Liquid Water Near the Top of Cold Clouds During the IMPACTS Campaign

Supercooled liquid water (SLW) has been frequently observed during the NASA Investigation of Microphysics and Precipitation for Atlantic Coast-Threatening Storms (IMPACTS) campaign that took place in the past winters from 2020 to 2023. The maintenance of SLW from being fully glaciated is not well understood. One hypothesis from past research is that turbulent motion may contribute to the formation of SLW (e.g., Korolev and Field, 2008).
In this study, we aim to use airborne remote sensing and in-situ observations to understand the presence of SLW from microphysical and dynamical perspectives. We use the NASA high-altitude cloud radar, Cloud Radar System (CRS), and Cloud Physics Lidar (CPL) to show the very high-resolution observations of the snow-producing cold cloud that was topped with SLW. We also use in-situ measurement from cloud probes and the Turbulent Air Motion Measurement System (TAMMS) to analyze liquid water content (LWC) and the vertical air motion and turbulence that coincides with the presence of SLW. Relationship between the SLW and turbulent air motion is being studied with the state-of-the art observational resources.
We will also use high-resolution model analysis to provide dynamical and thermodynamical environment that may contribute to the turbulent conditions near cloud top at the flight level.