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A Sensitivity Study of Arctic Air-Mass Transformation Using Large Eddy Simulation
Stockholm University, Faculty of Science, Department of Meteorology .
Stockholm University, Faculty of Science, Department of Meteorology .ORCID iD: 0000-0002-5940-2114
Stockholm University, Faculty of Science, Department of Meteorology .
Number of Authors: 42020 (English)In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Atmospheres, ISSN 2169-897X, E-ISSN 2169-8996, Vol. 125, no 6, article id e2019JD031738Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Arctic air mass transformation is linked to the evolution of low-level mixed-phase clouds. These clouds can alter the structure of the boundary layer and modify the surface energy budget. In this study, we use three-dimensional large eddy simulation and a bulk sea ice model to examine the lifecycle of clouds formed during wintertime advection of moist and warm air over sea ice, following a Lagrangian perspective. We investigate the stages of cloud formation, evolution, and decay. The results show that radiative cooling at the surface gives rise to fog formation which subsequently rises and transforms into a mixed-phase cloud. In our baseline simulation, the cloud persists for about 5 days and increases the surface temperature by on average 17 degrees C. Sensitivity tests show that the lifetime of the cloud is sensitive to changes in the vapor supply at cloud top. This flux is mainly impacted by changes in the divergence rate; an imposed convergence decreases the lifetime to 2 days while an imposed large-scale divergence increases the lifetime to more than 6 days. The largest difference in cloud radiative properties is found in the experiment with increased ice crystal number concentrations. In this case, the lifetime of the cloud is similar compared to baseline but the amount of liquid water is clearly depleted throughout the whole cloud sequence and the surface temperature is on average 6 degrees C cooler. The cloud condensation nuclei concentration has a weaker effect on the radiative properties and lifetime of the cloud. Plain Language Summary Arctic air mass transformation is a process in which an air mass originating over the open ocean enters the high Arctic and cools. Low-altitude clouds form and are often very persistent. They can exist for several days and warm the surface by emitting infrared radiation towards the surface. In this study, we have investigated the effect of the cloud on the surface energy budget by conducting large eddy simulations. In the model code we have incorporated a module that considers the thermodynamics of the sea ice surface. Knowing the sensitivity of these clouds to different parameters and physical processes will make us capable of predicting the cloud lifetime and radiative properties, and thus the induced warming effect on the sea ice surface. We have found that an increased ice crystal number concentration leads to a tenuous form of the cloud that only weakly warms the surface. An imposed large-scale ascent or descent affects the cloud lifetime by more than a day. Increasing the number of cloud condensation nuclei enhances the warming effect of the cloud.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2020. Vol. 125, no 6, article id e2019JD031738
National Category
Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:su:diva-181750DOI: 10.1029/2019JD031738ISI: 000529111600034OAI: oai:DiVA.org:su-181750DiVA, id: diva2:1432700
Available from: 2020-05-27 Created: 2020-05-27 Last updated: 2025-02-07Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. A large-eddy simulation perspective on Arctic airmass transformation and low-level cloud evolution
Open this publication in new window or tab >>A large-eddy simulation perspective on Arctic airmass transformation and low-level cloud evolution
2022 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

The Arctic is currently warming faster than other regions of the Earth. Many processes and feedbacks contribute to the enhanced warming. Among these are the radiative effects of clouds. Arctic mixed-phase clouds, which contain both liquid and ice condensate, have high longevity and can exert significant surface warming since the amount of solar radiation in the region is relatively low and the surface reflectivity often is high. In this thesis, we study these clouds utilizing a large-eddy model coupled with one-dimensional thermodynamic sea ice model. The main aim is to understand the interactions between cloud dynamics, microphysics, radiation, and turbulent processes and how these together govern the life cycle and surface warming of the clouds. By comparing a group of models with observations from the summertime high Arctic, we confirm the hypothesis that when aerosol concentrations are low, a small increase in their number concentration can increase the liquid water content of the cloud and in turn, the surface warming. Idealized simulations of moist intrusions into the Arctic show that the surface temperature may increase by more than 15o C if we allow clouds to form during a moist intrusion compared to if the atmosphere is cloud free. The simulations also show that the large-scale divergence rate strongly impacts the maintenance of the liquid layer at the top of these clouds. A main finding of the thesis is that the temperature of the cloud that forms during a moist intrusion is close to the initial dew point temperature. Thus, the surface warming induced by the clouds depends mostly on the initial humidity of the air mass rather than the initial temperature. In addition, the stability of the initial dew point temperature profile largely controls the turbulent state of the cloud. If the profile is unstable, then the cloud can transform from a thin, stable stratus to a deeper stratocumulus cloud, which also enhances the surface warming. Consequently, both the initial amount and the vertical structure of the initial moisture of the intrusion are important for the warming of the sea ice. A change in the number of cloud condensation nuclei does not affect the cloud evolution considerably provided that there is a continuous supply of these nuclei. However, if cloud condensation nuclei sources are absent then the cloud may remain in its stable state. Furthermore, a decrease in the cloud ice condensate, which may be caused by a lack of ice nucleation particles, may delay the transformation of the cloud into a stratocumulus. These results suggest that any future change in aerosol loading and atmospheric moisture transport into the Arctic may alter the surface longwave cloud radiative effect and cause changes in the sea ice evolution. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Stockholm: Department of Meteorology, Stockholm University, 2022. p. 38
Keywords
Arctic, mixed phase clouds, sea ice, Arctic amplification, atmospheric energy transport, CCN
National Category
Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences Climate Science
Research subject
Atmospheric Sciences and Oceanography
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:su:diva-208653 (URN)978-91-7911-996-6 (ISBN)978-91-7911-997-3 (ISBN)
Public defence
2022-10-21, Magnélisalen, Kemiska övningslaboratoriet, Svante Arrhenius väg 16B, Stockholm, 13:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2022-09-28 Created: 2022-09-03 Last updated: 2025-02-01Bibliographically approved

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Dimitrelos, AntoniosEkman, Annica M. L.Caballero, Rodrigo

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