Characteristics of cirrus crystal shapes from hydrometeor videosonde data

In-situ measurement data from cirrus cloud field experiments at Tsukuba, Japan, are analyzed and presented. Balloon-borne hydrometeor videosonde data were obtained from more than 30 launches and evaluated at different altitudes and at different temperatures ranging from -20 C and -70 C.

This study focuses on the cirrus crystal habit and shape. The observational results were basically consistent with recent laboratory studies. Vertical profiles and temperature dependence of aspect ratios and cross section areas of ice crystals are also presented.

Altitude and temperature dependences of crystal shapes obtained in this study are compared with those from other field experiments.