Collaborative Research: Cirrus Cloud Formation and Microphysical Properties from In-situ Observed Characteristics to Global Climate Impacts

本研究将根据在不同地理位置的实地观测，探讨卷云形成和演变背后的决定因素。此外，将使用气候模式量化观测受限气溶胶对卷云微物理特性影响的全球辐射强迫。该项目将侧重于三个关键的科学问题：（1）相似动力条件下卷云宏观和微观物理特性的半球差异;（2）驱动冰成核的多尺度动力强迫及其对气候模式中卷云模拟的影响;以及（3）人为气溶胶排放对卷云微物理特性的影响以及随后对全球辐射的影响。科学问题，研究小组将：（1）从覆盖不同地理位置的复合原位数据集中提取卷云样本，并比较两个半球卷云的形成和演变;（2）研究微观到中尺度（~0.1-10 km）水汽和温度的变化，并通过包括这些观测到的变化来改进NCAR社区大气模式第5版（CAM 5）;（3）比较污染区和未污染区卷云微物理特性的原位测量结果，并利用CAM 5定量分析污染区卷云对全球辐射平衡的扰动。然而，由于其巨大的空间异质性和时间变异性，卷云仍然是目前的大气环流模式（GCM）中代表性较差的组成部分之一。该项目将通过分析从北方和南半球、污染地区和原始地区获得的现场飞机数据，提高我们对卷云与动力条件和气溶胶背景有关的微物理特性的理解。此外，研究小组将利用观测到的特征来评估CAM 5中相对湿度和卷云的模拟，包括它们的发生，空间覆盖和微物理特性。此外，一个“最佳观测匹配”的冰微物理配置将被实施到CAM 5。 总的来说，利用卷云形成和演变的微观到中尺度观测，该研究将改进CAM 5中的卷云模拟，并提供对卷云由于人为气溶胶排放而调整的新估计（即，更广泛的影响：观测数据集和新的模式参数化都将向社区发布，包括一个综合的原位观测数据集（国家科学基金会、美国航天局和欧洲联盟共进行了8次活动），以及一个全球大气环流模式相对湿度变率的次网格尺度参数化。改进对卷云辐射强迫的人为气溶胶影响的估计有助于减少IPCC下一份报告中的不确定性。该项目将大大有利于怀俄明州大学和圣何塞州立大学的本科生和研究生的教学和指导。该项目还将招募和培训本科生，通过圣何塞州立大学的本科生大使计划在当地的K-12学校展示他们的研究。

This study will investigate the determinant factors behind cirrus cloud formation and evolution based on in-situ observations at various geographical locations. In addition, the global radiative forcing of observation-constrained aerosol impacts on cirrus microphysical properties will be quantified by using a climate model. The project will focus on three critical scientific issues: (1) Hemispheric differences in cirrus cloud macroscopic and microphysical properties under similar dynamical conditions; (2) Multi-scale dynamical forcings driving ice nucleation and their impacts on cirrus simulations in a climate model; and (3) Impacts of anthropogenic aerosol emissions on cirrus microphysical properties and the subsequent influences on global radiation.To address these scientific issues, The research team will: (1) extract cirrus cloud samples from a composite in-situ dataset covering various geographical locations, and compare the formation and evolution of cirrus clouds between two hemispheres; (2) examine the micro- to mesoscale (~0.1-10 km) variabilities of water vapor and temperature, and improve the NCAR Community Atmosphere Model version 5 (CAM5) by including these observed variabilities; (3) compare the in-situ measured cirrus microphysical properties between polluted and pristine regions, and use CAM5 to quantify the consequent perturbations on global radiation balance.Intellectual Merit:Cirrus clouds are one of the main modulators of Earth's climate system. However, due to their large spatial heterogeneity and temporal variability, cirrus clouds remain one of the poorly-represented components in current general circulation models (GCMs). This project will improve our understanding of cirrus microphysical properties in relation to dynamical conditions and aerosol backgrounds, by analyzing in-situ aircraft data obtained from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, polluted and pristine regions. Furthermore, the research team will use the observed characteristics to evaluate the simulations of relative humidity and cirrus clouds in CAM5 in terms of their occurrence, spatial coverage and microphysical properties. In addition, a "best-observation-matched" ice microphysics configuration will be implemented into CAM5. Overall, using micro- to mesoscale observations of cirrus formation and evolution, the research will improve cirrus cloud simulations in CAM5 and provide a new estimation on cirrus clouds' adjustments due to anthropogenic aerosol emissions (i.e., aerosol indirect forcing through perturbations of cirrus microphysical properties).Broader Impacts:Both the observational dataset and the new model parameterization will be released to the community, including a synthesized in-situ observation dataset (a total of 8 campaigns from NSF, NASA and European Union), and a sub-grid scale parameterization of relative humidity variability for GCMs. The improved estimation of anthropogenic aerosol impact on cirrus cloud radiative forcing can contribute to uncertainty reduction in the next IPCC report. The project will greatly benefit teaching and mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students at University of Wyoming and San Jose State University. The project will also recruit and train undergraduate students for presenting their research at the local K-12 schools via San Jose State University's undergraduate Ambassador Program.