On the distribution of relative humidity in cirrus clouds
We have analysed relative humidity statistics from measurements in cirrus clouds taken unintentionally during the Measurement of OZone by Airbus In-service airCraft project (MOZAIC). The shapes of the in-cloud humidity distributions change from nearly symmetric in relatively warm cirrus (warmer...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2004-01-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/4/639/2004/acp-4-639-2004.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818470648318525440 |
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| author | P. Spichtinger K. Gierens H. G. J. Smit J. Ovarlez J.-F. Gayet |
| author_facet | P. Spichtinger K. Gierens H. G. J. Smit J. Ovarlez J.-F. Gayet |
| author_sort | P. Spichtinger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We have analysed relative humidity statistics from measurements in cirrus clouds taken unintentionally during the Measurement of OZone by Airbus In-service airCraft project (MOZAIC). The shapes of the in-cloud humidity distributions change from nearly symmetric in relatively warm cirrus (warmer than −40°C) to considerably positively skew (i.e. towards high humidities) in colder clouds. These results are in agreement to findings obtained recently from the INterhemispheric differences in Cirrus properties from Anthropogenic emissions (INCA) campaign (Ovarlez et al., 2002). We interprete the temperature dependence of the shapes of the humidity distributions as an effect of the length of time a cirrus cloud needs from formation to a mature equilibrium stage, where the humidity is close to saturation. The duration of this transitional period increases with decreasing temperature. Hence cold cirrus clouds are more often met in the transitional stage than warm clouds. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T21:40:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-76ae944f77ed4ee292c1a62a147d5473 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T21:40:46Z |
| publishDate | 2004-01-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-76ae944f77ed4ee292c1a62a147d54732022-12-22T02:28:47ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242004-01-0143639647On the distribution of relative humidity in cirrus cloudsP. SpichtingerK. GierensH. G. J. SmitJ. OvarlezJ.-F. GayetWe have analysed relative humidity statistics from measurements in cirrus clouds taken unintentionally during the Measurement of OZone by Airbus In-service airCraft project (MOZAIC). The shapes of the in-cloud humidity distributions change from nearly symmetric in relatively warm cirrus (warmer than −40°C) to considerably positively skew (i.e. towards high humidities) in colder clouds. These results are in agreement to findings obtained recently from the INterhemispheric differences in Cirrus properties from Anthropogenic emissions (INCA) campaign (Ovarlez et al., 2002). We interprete the temperature dependence of the shapes of the humidity distributions as an effect of the length of time a cirrus cloud needs from formation to a mature equilibrium stage, where the humidity is close to saturation. The duration of this transitional period increases with decreasing temperature. Hence cold cirrus clouds are more often met in the transitional stage than warm clouds.http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/4/639/2004/acp-4-639-2004.pdf |
| spellingShingle | P. Spichtinger K. Gierens H. G. J. Smit J. Ovarlez J.-F. Gayet On the distribution of relative humidity in cirrus clouds Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | On the distribution of relative humidity in cirrus clouds |
| title_full | On the distribution of relative humidity in cirrus clouds |
| title_fullStr | On the distribution of relative humidity in cirrus clouds |
| title_full_unstemmed | On the distribution of relative humidity in cirrus clouds |
| title_short | On the distribution of relative humidity in cirrus clouds |
| title_sort | on the distribution of relative humidity in cirrus clouds |
| url | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/4/639/2004/acp-4-639-2004.pdf |
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