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

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.