Title: New insights into ice multiplication using remote-sensing observations of slightly supercooled mixed-phase clouds in the Arctic

Abstract

Secondary ice production (SIP) can significantly enhance ice particle number concentrations in mixed-phase clouds, resulting in a substantial impact on ice mass flux and evolution of cold cloud systems. SIP is especially important at temperatures warmer than –10 °C, for which primary ice nucleation lacks a significant number of efficient ice nucleating particles. However, determining the climatological significance of SIP has proved difficult using existing observational methods. Here we quantify the long-term occurrence of secondary ice events and their multiplication factors in slightly supercooled clouds using a multisensor, remote-sensing technique applied to 6 y of ground-based radar measurements in the Arctic. Further, we assess the potential contribution of the underlying mechanisms of rime splintering and freezing fragmentation. Our results show that the occurrence frequency of secondary ice events averages to <10% over the entire period. Although infrequent, the events can have a significant impact in a local region when they do occur, with up to a 1,000-fold enhancement in ice number concentration. We show that freezing fragmentation, which appears to be enhanced by updrafts, is more efficient for SIP than the better-known rime-splintering process. Furthermore, our field observations are consistent with laboratory findings while shedding light on the phenomenon andmore » its contributing factors in a natural environment. This study provides critical insights needed to advance parameterization of SIP in numerical simulations and to design future laboratory experiments.« less

Authors:

Luke, Edward P.  ^[1];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Luke, Edward P."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-1606-0046"

Yang, Fan  ^[1];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Yang, Fan"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-8866-6664"

Kollias, Pavlos  ^[2];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Kollias, Pavlos"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-5984-7869"

Vogelmann, Andrew M.  ^[1];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Vogelmann, Andrew M."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-1918-5423"

Maahn, Maximilian  ^[3]

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Maahn, Maximilian"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-2580-9100"

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Environmental and Climate Sciences Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973,
2. Environmental and Climate Sciences Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973,, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794,
3. Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80305,, Physical Sciences Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, CO 80305

Publication Date:

Mon Mar 22 00:00:00 EDT 2021

Research Org.:

Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

OSTI Identifier:

1772248

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1782540

Report Number(s):

BNL-221232-2021-JAAM
Journal ID: ISSN 0027-8424; e2021387118

Grant/Contract Number:  

SC0012704; SC0013306

Resource Type:

Published Article

Journal Name:

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Journal Volume: 118 Journal Issue: 13; Journal ID: ISSN 0027-8424

Publisher:

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; secondary ice production; radar Doppler spectra; mixed-phase cloud; remote sensing