Vertical structure of cloud macro- and microphysical properties under the Southwest Vortex systems in the warm season based on CloudSat

IF 4.4 2区地球科学 Q1 METEOROLOGY & ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES

Atmospheric Research Pub Date : 2025-08-29 DOI:10.1016/j.atmosres.2025.108443

Xinyue Zhang , Pengguo Zhao , Dian Li , Wen Zhao , Hui Xiao , Yunjun Zhou , Zeneng He

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Abstract

This study investigates the vertical structure of macro- and microphysical cloud properties associated with the Southwest Vortex (SWV) during the warm season, utilizing CloudSat satellite observations and Southwest Vortex Yearbooks (2012–2017). Results show that the SWV system's cloud top height exceeds 16 km, with a maximum average cloud cover of 35 %, approximately 17 % higher than the East Asian average. Single-layer clouds account for about 48 %, with frequency decreasing as cloud layer number increases. Altocumulus and high clouds are most frequent, while deep convective clouds and nimbostratus are least frequent. Cloud phase analysis under the SWV systems shows a balanced occurrence (37 %) of ice and liquid clouds, with mixed-phase clouds showing the lowest frequency (27 %). Radar reflectivity vertical profiles identify key layers at 2 km (raindrop evaporation) and 5 km (mixed-phase regions).The liquid cloud effective radius reaches a peak of 35 μm at 1.5 km, stabilizing to 15 μm above 2 km. The ice cloud effective radius is distributed between 25 and 95 μm, with a maximum value of 95 μm observed at 5 km. The ice water content exhibits a unimodal distribution, peaking at 0.3 g·m⁻³ at 8 km. As an α mesoscale convective system, the SWV's strong updraft drives airflow to the upper atmosphere, where low temperatures and supersaturated conditions facilitate the growth of ice crystals. These results clarify the SWV's unique cloud vertical structure and properties, reveal links between regional mesoscale convective systems and cloud-precipitation processes, and provide a basis for enhancing the accuracy of climate and weather forecasts.

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基于CloudSat的暖季西南涡旋系统下云宏观和微观物理特性的垂直结构

本研究利用CloudSat卫星观测资料和西南涡旋年鉴（2012-2017），研究了暖季西南涡旋（SWV）相关的宏观和微物理云特性的垂直结构。结果表明，SWV系统云顶高度超过16 km，最大平均云量为35%，比东亚平均水平高出约17%；单层云约占48%，随云层数的增加，出现频率逐渐降低。高积云和高空云是最常见的，而深层对流云和流云是最不常见的。在SWV系统下的云相分析显示，冰和液体云的出现是平衡的（37%），混合相云的出现频率最低（27%）。雷达反射率垂直剖面确定了2公里（雨滴蒸发）和5公里（混合相位区域）的关键层。液云有效半径在1.5 km处达到峰值35 μm，在2 km以上稳定在15 μm。冰云有效半径分布在25 ~ 95 μm之间，在5 km处观测到最大值为95 μm。冰水含量呈单峰型分布，在8 km处达到峰值0.3 g·m−3。作为一个α中尺度对流系统，SWV强烈的上升气流推动气流进入高层大气，而高层大气的低温和过饱和条件有利于冰晶的生长。这些结果阐明了西南气旋独特的云垂直结构和性质，揭示了区域中尺度对流系统与云降水过程之间的联系，为提高气候和天气预报的准确性提供了依据。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Atmospheric Research 地学-气象与大气科学

CiteScore

9.40

自引率

10.90%

发文量

460

审稿时长

47 days

期刊介绍： The journal publishes scientific papers (research papers, review articles, letters and notes) dealing with the part of the atmosphere where meteorological events occur. Attention is given to all processes extending from the earth surface to the tropopause, but special emphasis continues to be devoted to the physics of clouds, mesoscale meteorology and air pollution, i.e. atmospheric aerosols; microphysical processes; cloud dynamics and thermodynamics; numerical simulation, climatology, climate change and weather modification.