Climatic implications of ice microphysics

Technical Report · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/232598· OSTI ID:232598

Liou, K. N. ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (United States)

Based on aircraft measurements of mid-latitude cirrus clouds, ice crystal size distribution and ice water content (IWC) are shown to be dependent on temperature. This dependence is also evident from the theoretical consideration of ice crystal growth. Using simple models of the diffusion and accretion growth of ice particles, the computed mean ice crystal size and IWC compare reasonably well with the measured mean values. The temperature dependence of ice crystal size and IWC has important climatic implications in that the temperature field perturbed by external radiative forcings, such as greenhouse warming, can alter the composition of ice crystal clouds. Through radiative transfer, ice microphysics can in turn affect the temperature field. Higher IWC would increase cloud solar albedo and infrared emissivity, while for a given IWC, larger crystals would reduce cloud albedo and emissivity. The competing effects produced by greenhouse temperature perturbations via ice micro-physics and radiation interactions and feedbacks are assessed by a one-dimensional radiative-convective climate model that includes an advanced radiation parameterization program. 3 figs.

• Research Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Research, Washington, DC (United States). Environmental Sciences Div.
• OSTI ID: 232598
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER--0661T; ON: DE96000982
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALBEDO
CLOUDS
CRYSTAL GROWTH
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
EMISSIVITY
GLOBAL ASPECTS
HEAT FLUX
ICE
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE