A Path to Improving Simulated Properties of Low Clouds Over the Beaufort Sea Using Airborne in Situ Observations of Subgrid‐Scale Variability.
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| Title: | A Path to Improving Simulated Properties of Low Clouds Over the Beaufort Sea Using Airborne in Situ Observations of Subgrid‐Scale Variability. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Dodson, J. B.1,2 (AUTHOR) jason.b.dodson@nasa.gov, Taylor, P. C.2 (AUTHOR), Barahona, D. O.3 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres. 6/16/2026, Vol. 131 Issue 11, p1-18. 18p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Humidity, Aerial surveys, Atmospheric models, Cloud physics, Stratus clouds |
| Geographic Terms: | Beaufort Sea, Arctic regions |
| Abstract: | Arctic low clouds influence Arctic system evolution through their effects on the atmosphere and surface. Unfortunately, atmospheric models and retrospective analysis (reanalysis) struggle to simulate Arctic low cloud occurrence and properties. A potential source of this problem is the representations of subgrid‐scale (SGS) variability within large‐scale condensation schemes used to determine grid‐scale (GS) cloud properties. We utilize cloud and thermodynamic data of primarily liquid low‐level clouds from two aircraft campaigns conducted in the Arctic marine, sea ice environment to better characterize SGS variability and its relationship to GS cloud water. We examine the influence of two assumed SGS parameters on the estimation of GS cloud water: the total water SGS PDF shape, and the SGS total water PDF width (ΔQT). The results show that the conventional assumptions of shape and ΔQT lead to substantial errors in GS cloud water and cloud fraction estimates, particularly failing to handle partly cloudy conditions. The observed total water PDF is triangular with Gaussian‐like tails, which we replicate with a Gaussian function. ΔQT is sensitive to GS relative humidity, and so we allow it to vary as an empirically derived linear function of GS relative humidity. Both alterations result in an improved representation of GS cloud water and cloud fraction, though the details vary significantly between the aircraft campaigns. Both alterations show good promise for improving the model representation of Arctic boundary‐layer clouds. Plain Language Summary: The Arctic region has one of the most rapidly changing climates of Earth and affects weather and climate far outside the Arctic. Observations are difficult to collect from within the Arctic because it is remote, so we rely heavily on models to study the Arctic. The models need to represent many interlocking components of the Arctic climate system, and one example are low altitude clouds. Most models have only limited ability to simulate clouds, and therefore assumptions must be made about how clouds behave. Unfortunately, models often struggle to replicate the observed Arctic cloud properties. To help understand why, we use data collected from two aircraft experiments to investigate how clouds and humidity vary on both large and small scales. We find that some of the common assumptions about cloud behavior on small scales don't match what the observations show. In particular, the observed pattern of small‐scale moisture variability can be described as a "triangle with tails", and the "tails" are not well‐represented in many models. We also find that some of the assumed parameters that control cloud formation are sensitive to meteorological conditions, and this is also not well‐represented. Fixing these assumptions may improve how models represent Arctic clouds. Key Points: Aircraft in situ observations are used to characterize subgrid‐scale distributions of cloud water, which are assumed in modelsObserved subgrid‐scale distributions resemble "triangle with tails", and the tails are not represented by common model distributionsUsing common assumed distribution parameters contributes to errors in cloud water, which may be improved by using observed parameters [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | GreenFILE |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: 8gh DbLabel: GreenFILE An: 194450511 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: A Path to Improving Simulated Properties of Low Clouds Over the Beaufort Sea Using Airborne in Situ Observations of Subgrid‐Scale Variability. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dodson%2C+J%2E+B%2E%22">Dodson, J. B.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> jason.b.dodson@nasa.gov</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Taylor%2C+P%2E+C%2E%22">Taylor, P. C.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Barahona%2C+D%2E+O%2E%22">Barahona, D. O.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Geophysical+Research%2E+Atmospheres%22">Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres</searchLink>. 6/16/2026, Vol. 131 Issue 11, p1-18. 18p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Humidity%22">Humidity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Aerial+surveys%22">Aerial surveys</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Atmospheric+models%22">Atmospheric models</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cloud+physics%22">Cloud physics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Stratus+clouds%22">Stratus clouds</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Beaufort+Sea%22">Beaufort Sea</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Arctic+regions%22">Arctic regions</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Arctic low clouds influence Arctic system evolution through their effects on the atmosphere and surface. Unfortunately, atmospheric models and retrospective analysis (reanalysis) struggle to simulate Arctic low cloud occurrence and properties. A potential source of this problem is the representations of subgrid‐scale (SGS) variability within large‐scale condensation schemes used to determine grid‐scale (GS) cloud properties. We utilize cloud and thermodynamic data of primarily liquid low‐level clouds from two aircraft campaigns conducted in the Arctic marine, sea ice environment to better characterize SGS variability and its relationship to GS cloud water. We examine the influence of two assumed SGS parameters on the estimation of GS cloud water: the total water SGS PDF shape, and the SGS total water PDF width (ΔQT). The results show that the conventional assumptions of shape and ΔQT lead to substantial errors in GS cloud water and cloud fraction estimates, particularly failing to handle partly cloudy conditions. The observed total water PDF is triangular with Gaussian‐like tails, which we replicate with a Gaussian function. ΔQT is sensitive to GS relative humidity, and so we allow it to vary as an empirically derived linear function of GS relative humidity. Both alterations result in an improved representation of GS cloud water and cloud fraction, though the details vary significantly between the aircraft campaigns. Both alterations show good promise for improving the model representation of Arctic boundary‐layer clouds. Plain Language Summary: The Arctic region has one of the most rapidly changing climates of Earth and affects weather and climate far outside the Arctic. Observations are difficult to collect from within the Arctic because it is remote, so we rely heavily on models to study the Arctic. The models need to represent many interlocking components of the Arctic climate system, and one example are low altitude clouds. Most models have only limited ability to simulate clouds, and therefore assumptions must be made about how clouds behave. Unfortunately, models often struggle to replicate the observed Arctic cloud properties. To help understand why, we use data collected from two aircraft experiments to investigate how clouds and humidity vary on both large and small scales. We find that some of the common assumptions about cloud behavior on small scales don't match what the observations show. In particular, the observed pattern of small‐scale moisture variability can be described as a "triangle with tails", and the "tails" are not well‐represented in many models. We also find that some of the assumed parameters that control cloud formation are sensitive to meteorological conditions, and this is also not well‐represented. Fixing these assumptions may improve how models represent Arctic clouds. Key Points: Aircraft in situ observations are used to characterize subgrid‐scale distributions of cloud water, which are assumed in modelsObserved subgrid‐scale distributions resemble "triangle with tails", and the tails are not represented by common model distributionsUsing common assumed distribution parameters contributes to errors in cloud water, which may be improved by using observed parameters [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1029/2025JD045279 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 18 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Humidity Type: general – SubjectFull: Aerial surveys Type: general – SubjectFull: Atmospheric models Type: general – SubjectFull: Cloud physics Type: general – SubjectFull: Stratus clouds Type: general – SubjectFull: Beaufort Sea Type: general – SubjectFull: Arctic regions Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: A Path to Improving Simulated Properties of Low Clouds Over the Beaufort Sea Using Airborne in Situ Observations of Subgrid‐Scale Variability. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Dodson, J. B. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Taylor, P. C. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Barahona, D. O. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 16 M: 06 Text: 6/16/2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 2169897X Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 131 – Type: issue Value: 11 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
