Symposium on Recent Developments in Atmospheric Applications of Radar and Lidar

1.1

Spaceborne Lidar-radar Observations of Winter-time Polar Clouds

Graeme Stephens, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO; and J. P. Blanchet

Observations of polar clouds revealed by the CloudSat radar and the CALIPSO lidar will be described with special emphasis on the similarities and differences evident in these two types of observations. Observations reveal two types of clouds, thin precipitating ice cloud layers and lofted ice cloud layers of smaller crystals and the properties of these two cloud types will be revealed. The significance of these differences to the polar-night climate will be briefly described and possible relations to aerosol will be noted. Clouds over the two poles will be contrasted and these in turn will be contrasted to high ice cloud of the upper tropical troposphere.

Session 1, RADAR/LIDAR Studies from Space
Tuesday, 22 January 2008, 9:00 AM-9:45 AM, 210

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