Measurements of aerosol and cirrus clouds in the UTLS by a shipborne lidar.

Immler, Franz and Schrems, Otto ;

Contact

fimmler [ at ] awi-bremerhaven.de

Abstract

Measurements of cirrus clouds and aerosol in the lower stratosphere and upper troposphere have been performed with a mobile lidar system aboard the German research vessel Polarstern. The aerosol load in the lower stratosphere is higher in the tropics compared to the midlatitudes. Our data reveal a high frequency of occurrence of subvisual cirrus clouds in the tropical tropopause region. Based on the data of radiosondes the temperature of the clouds as well as the structure of the tropical tropopause is characterized. The mean optical depth was 0.02 and a mean temperature of 198 K was determined. Cloud tops are often found at the thermal tropopause. In some cases these clouds are extemely thin with an optical depth below 10-3.

Item Type

Conference (Conference paper)

Authors

Immler, Franz and Schrems, Otto ;

Divisions

AWI Organizations > Climate Sciences > Atmospheric Physics

Programs

Basic Research > Helmholtz Independent Research

Publication Status

Published

Event Details

Reviewed and revised papers presented at the 22nd International Laser Radar Conference (ILRC 2004) : 12 - 16 July 2004, Matera, Italy / European Space Agency. Gelsomina Pappalardo, Aldo Amodeo (eds.), I. (ESA SP; 561, Buch).

Eprint ID

10917

Cite as

Immler, F. and Schrems, O. (2004): Measurements of aerosol and cirrus clouds in the UTLS by a shipborne lidar. , Reviewed and revised papers presented at the 22nd International Laser Radar Conference (ILRC 2004) : 12 - 16 July 2004, Matera, Italy / European Space Agency. Gelsomina Pappalardo, Aldo Amodeo (eds.), I. (ESA SP; 561, Buch) .