Evaluation of the Cloud Particle Imager (CPI) and Microphysical Investigations of Wave, Cirrus and Anvil Clouds

该项目是对CPI(云粒成像仪)的评估和应用的继续，CPI是一种机载仪器，可以产生尺寸为几微米的高分辨率云粒图像，远远超过其他仪器的能力。CPI正在通过增加一个由海军研究办公室资助的双2D立体成像探测器而得到改善。它将在LearJet上飞行，在波浪和顶端云中飞行，以研究不同环境条件下冰晶的大小、结晶习性、生长和浓度。风暴峰天文台将在两个冬季分别进行地面实验，将冰晶的CPI图像与冰滴融化时形成的水滴图像进行比较。这将更好地定义冰晶的大小和形状与其质量之间的关系，并使航空实验中的CPI能够用于估计单位体积卷云的冰质量。实验室实验、理论分析以及地面和机载实验相结合，将极大地增加低温下天然云中冰晶的可用数据。这些信息对云物理和预测卷云对太阳和红外辐射传输的影响都很重要。

This project is a continuation of the evaluation and application of the CPI (Cloud Particle Imager), an airborne instrument that produces high-resolution images of cloud particles down to a size of several micrometers, far exceeding the capabilities of other instruments. The CPI is being improved by addition of a dual 2D-stereo imaging probe funded by the Office of Naval Research. It will be flown on a Learjet in wave and anvil clouds to investigate the sizes, crystal habit, growth, and concentration of ice crystals in different environmental conditions. Separate ground-based experiments will be carried out at the Storm Peak Observatory in two winter seasons to compare CPI images of ice crystals with images of the drops formed as they melt. This will provide a better definition of the relation between the size and shape of ice crystals and their mass, and will enable the CPI in airborne experiments to be used for estimating the mass of ice per unit volume of cirrus clouds. The combination of laboratory experiments, theoretical analysis, and ground-based and airborne experiments will greatly increase the data available on ice crystals in natural clouds at cold temperatures. The information is important for both cloud physics and for predicting the effects of cirrus clouds on the transfer of solar and infrared radiation.