Cirrus cloud particles in TTL observed by Hydrometeor Video Sonde (HYVIS)
Abstract
Cirrus cloud particles in TTL were measured by balloon borne Hydrometeor Video Sonde (HYVIS). The balloon borne HYVIS is an instrument to sample cloud particles at the surface of transparent photo film, and to take microscopic video images of the sampled particles from the opposite side of the file. The images are transferred to the ground by radio telemetry. The minimum detectable particle size and number concentration are ~5 μm and ~5x103/m3, respectively. Changes in size, shape and number concentration of cloud particles versus altitude can be measured by balloon borne HYVIS. HYVIS instrument was launched by rubber balloon once in a day from 7 to 9th January 2013. All the three HYVIS reached stratospheric altitude, therefore could observe TTL altitude range. These observations were performed as a part of SOWER campaign at Biak (1.17'S, 136.06'E), Indonesia from 5 to 14th January 2013. The vertical profiles of clouds and humidity were also observed in the campaign by ground based lidar and balloon born cryogenic frostpoint hygrometer (CFH), respectively. The HYVIS instrument launched at 18:46 LT on 9th measured three layers of cirrus cloud particles between 11 and 18 km in altitude. The size and number concentration of the cloud particles were near the detection limit of HYVIS: The diameter of particles was from 6 to 20 μm, and the number concentration was from 1.9x104 to 5.8x104/m3. The columnar, needle, or plate-like shaped particles were rarely detected, and the almost all of the particles looked like sphere. On the same day of the HYVIS observation mentioned above CFH launched in the morning at 9:51 LT. The lidar observed clouds between 8 and 17 km in altitude simultaneously. There were humidity maximums at 15, 16 and 17 km in altitude, and the relative humidity over ice was sub-saturated (90%) at 15 and 16 km, and was super-saturated (107%) at 17km.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2013
- Bibcode:
- 2013AGUFM.A51F0108S
- Keywords:
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- 0305 ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE Aerosols and particles;
- 0320 ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE Cloud physics and chemistry