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Comparative Analysis of Orographic Cirrus Clouds over Major Mountainous Regions Using Satellite Observations.

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Title: Comparative Analysis of Orographic Cirrus Clouds over Major Mountainous Regions Using Satellite Observations.
Authors: Hu, Xiaoyu1 (AUTHOR) huxy2023@pku.edu.cn, Du, Tao2 (AUTHOR), Wang, Leyi1,3 (AUTHOR), Zuo, Yuanyuan1,4 (AUTHOR), Du, Jiajing1,2 (AUTHOR), Wang, Chen2,3 (AUTHOR), Han, Zihang3,4 (AUTHOR)
Source: Remote Sensing. Jun2026, Vol. 18 Issue 11, p1701. 19p.
Subjects: Cirrus clouds, Satellite-based remote sensing, Spatial variation, Alpine regions, Radiative forcing, Orographic clouds, Atmospheric circulation
Geographic Terms: Andes, Rocky Mountains, Himalaya Mountains, Alps
Abstract: Highlights: What are the main findings? Satellite observations reveal clear regional differences in the occurrence and vertical structure of orographic cirrus over the Rocky Mountains, Andes, Alps, and Himalayas. Orographic cirrus over the Andes exhibits higher cloud top heights and thinner optical properties, while the other mountainous regions show more compact vertical structures and larger ice water paths. What are the implications of the main findings? The formation and properties of orographic cirrus are strongly modulated by regional topography, large-scale circulation, and convective activity. These results highlight that the radiative influence of cirrus over mountainous regions can vary substantially across different climatic and dynamical environments. Orographic cirrus clouds frequently occur over mountainous regions and can influence the radiative balance of the upper troposphere, yet their characteristics and regional variability remain insufficiently understood on a global scale. In this study, we investigate the occurrence, vertical structure, and microphysical and optical properties of orographic cirrus over four major mountainous regions, namely the Rocky Mountains, the Andes, the Alps, and the Himalayas, using the Identification and Classification of Cirrus (IC-CIR) framework together with satellite observations from MODIS, CloudSat, and CALIPSO. The results reveal clear regional differences in both occurrence and structure. Cloud cover is higher over the Himalayas and the Alps and lower over the Andes, while seasonal variability is strongest over the Himalayas and the Alps and weakest over the Andes. In terms of vertical structure, cirrus over the Andes reaches higher cloud tops and exhibits a bimodal distribution. The Andes also show smaller values of ice water path, optical depth, and cirrus reflectance. These results provide a unified comparison of orographic cirrus clouds across four representative major mountainous regions and highlight substantial regional differences in their characteristics and potential radiative influence under different topographic and dynamical environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Remote Sensing is the property of MDPI 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.)
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  Data: Comparative Analysis of Orographic Cirrus Clouds over Major Mountainous Regions Using Satellite Observations.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Remote+Sensing%22">Remote Sensing</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 18 Issue 11, p1701. 19p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cirrus+clouds%22">Cirrus clouds</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Satellite-based+remote+sensing%22">Satellite-based remote sensing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Spatial+variation%22">Spatial variation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Alpine+regions%22">Alpine regions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Radiative+forcing%22">Radiative forcing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Orographic+clouds%22">Orographic clouds</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Atmospheric+circulation%22">Atmospheric circulation</searchLink>
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  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Andes%22">Andes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rocky+Mountains%22">Rocky Mountains</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Himalaya+Mountains%22">Himalaya Mountains</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Alps%22">Alps</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Highlights: What are the main findings? Satellite observations reveal clear regional differences in the occurrence and vertical structure of orographic cirrus over the Rocky Mountains, Andes, Alps, and Himalayas. Orographic cirrus over the Andes exhibits higher cloud top heights and thinner optical properties, while the other mountainous regions show more compact vertical structures and larger ice water paths. What are the implications of the main findings? The formation and properties of orographic cirrus are strongly modulated by regional topography, large-scale circulation, and convective activity. These results highlight that the radiative influence of cirrus over mountainous regions can vary substantially across different climatic and dynamical environments. Orographic cirrus clouds frequently occur over mountainous regions and can influence the radiative balance of the upper troposphere, yet their characteristics and regional variability remain insufficiently understood on a global scale. In this study, we investigate the occurrence, vertical structure, and microphysical and optical properties of orographic cirrus over four major mountainous regions, namely the Rocky Mountains, the Andes, the Alps, and the Himalayas, using the Identification and Classification of Cirrus (IC-CIR) framework together with satellite observations from MODIS, CloudSat, and CALIPSO. The results reveal clear regional differences in both occurrence and structure. Cloud cover is higher over the Himalayas and the Alps and lower over the Andes, while seasonal variability is strongest over the Himalayas and the Alps and weakest over the Andes. In terms of vertical structure, cirrus over the Andes reaches higher cloud tops and exhibits a bimodal distribution. The Andes also show smaller values of ice water path, optical depth, and cirrus reflectance. These results provide a unified comparison of orographic cirrus clouds across four representative major mountainous regions and highlight substantial regional differences in their characteristics and potential radiative influence under different topographic and dynamical environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Remote Sensing is the property of MDPI 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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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.3390/rs18111701
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 19
        StartPage: 1701
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Cirrus clouds
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Satellite-based remote sensing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Spatial variation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Alpine regions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Radiative forcing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Orographic clouds
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Atmospheric circulation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Andes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Rocky Mountains
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      – SubjectFull: Himalaya Mountains
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      – SubjectFull: Alps
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      – TitleFull: Comparative Analysis of Orographic Cirrus Clouds over Major Mountainous Regions Using Satellite Observations.
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              Text: Jun2026
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              Y: 2026
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