Quantifying the Differences in Southern Ocean Clouds Observed by Radar and Lidar From Three Platforms

Xiquan Dong; Anik Das; Baike Xi; Xiaojian Zheng; Ali Behrangi; Alexa R. Marcovecchio; Dylan J. Girone

doi:10.1029/2024GL112079

Quantifying the Differences in Southern Ocean Clouds Observed by Radar and Lidar From Three Platforms

Xiquan Dong
, Anik Das
, Baike Xi
, Xiaojian Zheng
, Ali Behrangi
, Alexa R. Marcovecchio
, Dylan J. Girone

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

A synergistic analysis of the radar-only and combined radar-lidar observations across the three platforms was conducted. To align with well-calibrated CloudSat cloud profiling radar (CPR) (and HCR) reflectivity measurements, a constant 4.5 dB offset was applied to all M-WACR reflectivitives during the MARCUS. This brings M-WACR data into better agreement with both HCR and CPR reflectivity measurements and facilitates a more reliable cloud fraction (CF) comparison. The total CFs (CF_Ts) derived from the three radars show excellent agreement. All three radars detect large drizzle drops, but M-WACR and HCR excel at detecting smaller cloud droplets that are often missed by CPR. The underestimated CFs by CPR are due to increased attenuation of CPR measurements below 3 km, and the combined effects of attenuation and surface clutter below 1 km. Combining radar and lidar observations enhanced cloud detection by 20%–60%. The results from this study provide new insights for designing future cloud radar systems.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	e2024GL112079
Journal	Geophysical Research Letters
Volume	52
Issue number	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL112079
State	Published - May 16 2025

Keywords

CloudSat CALIPSO
MARCUS
SOCRATES
Southern Ocean
cloud microphysics
radar lidar

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geophysics
General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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10.1029/2024GL112079

Cite this

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title = "Quantifying the Differences in Southern Ocean Clouds Observed by Radar and Lidar From Three Platforms",

abstract = "A synergistic analysis of the radar-only and combined radar-lidar observations across the three platforms was conducted. To align with well-calibrated CloudSat cloud profiling radar (CPR) (and HCR) reflectivity measurements, a constant 4.5 dB offset was applied to all M-WACR reflectivitives during the MARCUS. This brings M-WACR data into better agreement with both HCR and CPR reflectivity measurements and facilitates a more reliable cloud fraction (CF) comparison. The total CFs (CFTs) derived from the three radars show excellent agreement. All three radars detect large drizzle drops, but M-WACR and HCR excel at detecting smaller cloud droplets that are often missed by CPR. The underestimated CFs by CPR are due to increased attenuation of CPR measurements below 3 km, and the combined effects of attenuation and surface clutter below 1 km. Combining radar and lidar observations enhanced cloud detection by 20\%–60\%. The results from this study provide new insights for designing future cloud radar systems.",

keywords = "CloudSat CALIPSO, MARCUS, SOCRATES, Southern Ocean, cloud microphysics, radar lidar",

author = "Xiquan Dong and Anik Das and Baike Xi and Xiaojian Zheng and Ali Behrangi and Marcovecchio, \{Alexa R.\} and Girone, \{Dylan J.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025. The Author(s).",

year = "2025",

month = may,

day = "16",

doi = "10.1029/2024GL112079",

language = "English (US)",

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journal = "Geophysical Research Letters",

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AU - Dong, Xiquan

AU - Das, Anik

AU - Xi, Baike

AU - Zheng, Xiaojian

AU - Behrangi, Ali

AU - Marcovecchio, Alexa R.

AU - Girone, Dylan J.

PY - 2025/5/16

Y1 - 2025/5/16

N2 - A synergistic analysis of the radar-only and combined radar-lidar observations across the three platforms was conducted. To align with well-calibrated CloudSat cloud profiling radar (CPR) (and HCR) reflectivity measurements, a constant 4.5 dB offset was applied to all M-WACR reflectivitives during the MARCUS. This brings M-WACR data into better agreement with both HCR and CPR reflectivity measurements and facilitates a more reliable cloud fraction (CF) comparison. The total CFs (CFTs) derived from the three radars show excellent agreement. All three radars detect large drizzle drops, but M-WACR and HCR excel at detecting smaller cloud droplets that are often missed by CPR. The underestimated CFs by CPR are due to increased attenuation of CPR measurements below 3 km, and the combined effects of attenuation and surface clutter below 1 km. Combining radar and lidar observations enhanced cloud detection by 20%–60%. The results from this study provide new insights for designing future cloud radar systems.

AB - A synergistic analysis of the radar-only and combined radar-lidar observations across the three platforms was conducted. To align with well-calibrated CloudSat cloud profiling radar (CPR) (and HCR) reflectivity measurements, a constant 4.5 dB offset was applied to all M-WACR reflectivitives during the MARCUS. This brings M-WACR data into better agreement with both HCR and CPR reflectivity measurements and facilitates a more reliable cloud fraction (CF) comparison. The total CFs (CFTs) derived from the three radars show excellent agreement. All three radars detect large drizzle drops, but M-WACR and HCR excel at detecting smaller cloud droplets that are often missed by CPR. The underestimated CFs by CPR are due to increased attenuation of CPR measurements below 3 km, and the combined effects of attenuation and surface clutter below 1 km. Combining radar and lidar observations enhanced cloud detection by 20%–60%. The results from this study provide new insights for designing future cloud radar systems.

KW - CloudSat CALIPSO

KW - MARCUS

KW - SOCRATES

KW - Southern Ocean

KW - cloud microphysics

KW - radar lidar

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UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105004256097#tab=citedBy

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DO - 10.1029/2024GL112079

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JO - Geophysical Research Letters

JF - Geophysical Research Letters

IS - 9

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ER -

Quantifying the Differences in Southern Ocean Clouds Observed by Radar and Lidar From Three Platforms

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Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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