Climatology of Cloud Vertical Structures from Long-Term High-Resolution Radiosonde Measurements in Beijing
Clouds are significant in the global radiation budget, atmospheric circulation, and hydrological cycle. However, knowledge regarding the observed climatology of the cloud vertical structure (CVS) over Beijing is still poor. Based on high-resolution radiosonde observations at Beijing Nanjiao Weather...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-04-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/4/401 |
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| author | Qing Zhou Yong Zhang Shuze Jia Junli Jin Shanshan Lv Yanan Li |
| author_facet | Qing Zhou Yong Zhang Shuze Jia Junli Jin Shanshan Lv Yanan Li |
| author_sort | Qing Zhou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Clouds are significant in the global radiation budget, atmospheric circulation, and hydrological cycle. However, knowledge regarding the observed climatology of the cloud vertical structure (CVS) over Beijing is still poor. Based on high-resolution radiosonde observations at Beijing Nanjiao Weather Observatory (BNWO) during the period 2010–2017, the method for identifying CVS depending on height-resolved relative humidity thresholds is improved, and CVS estimation by radiosonde is compared with observations by millimeter-wave cloud radar and ceilometer at the same site. Good consistency is shown between the three instruments. Then, the CVS climatology, including the frequency distribution and seasonal variation, is investigated. Overall, the occurrence frequency (OF) of cloudy cases in Beijing is slightly higher than that of clear-sky cases, and the cloud OF is highest in summer and lowest in winter. Single-layer clouds and middle-level clouds are dominant in Beijing. In addition, the average cloud top height (CTH), cloud base height (CBH), and cloud thickness in Beijing are 6.2 km, 4.0 km, and 2.2 km, respectively, and show the trend of reaching peaks in spring and minimums in winter. In terms of frequency distribution, the CTH basically resides below an altitude of 16 km, and approximately 43% of the CBHs are located at altitudes of 0.5–1.5 km. The cloud OF has only one peak located at altitudes of 4–8 km in spring, whereas it shows a trimodal distribution in other seasons. The height at which the cloud OF reaches its peak is highest in summer and lowest in winter. To the best of our knowledge, the cloud properties analyzed here are the first to elucidate the distribution and temporal variation of the CVS in Beijing from a long-term sounding perspective, and these results will provide a scientific observation basis for improving the atmospheric circulation model, as well as comparisons and verifications for measurements by ground-based remote sensing equipment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:24:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e6210293021d4d5cae7a4f6d683ef330 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:24:39Z |
| publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-e6210293021d4d5cae7a4f6d683ef3302023-11-19T21:55:09ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332020-04-0111440110.3390/atmos11040401Climatology of Cloud Vertical Structures from Long-Term High-Resolution Radiosonde Measurements in BeijingQing Zhou0Yong Zhang1Shuze Jia2Junli Jin3Shanshan Lv4Yanan Li5Meteorological Observation Center, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing 100081, ChinaMeteorological Observation Center, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing 100081, ChinaNational Satellite Meteorological Center, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing 100081, ChinaMeteorological Observation Center, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing 100081, ChinaMeteorological Observation Center, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing 100081, ChinaMeteorological Observation Center, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing 100081, ChinaClouds are significant in the global radiation budget, atmospheric circulation, and hydrological cycle. However, knowledge regarding the observed climatology of the cloud vertical structure (CVS) over Beijing is still poor. Based on high-resolution radiosonde observations at Beijing Nanjiao Weather Observatory (BNWO) during the period 2010–2017, the method for identifying CVS depending on height-resolved relative humidity thresholds is improved, and CVS estimation by radiosonde is compared with observations by millimeter-wave cloud radar and ceilometer at the same site. Good consistency is shown between the three instruments. Then, the CVS climatology, including the frequency distribution and seasonal variation, is investigated. Overall, the occurrence frequency (OF) of cloudy cases in Beijing is slightly higher than that of clear-sky cases, and the cloud OF is highest in summer and lowest in winter. Single-layer clouds and middle-level clouds are dominant in Beijing. In addition, the average cloud top height (CTH), cloud base height (CBH), and cloud thickness in Beijing are 6.2 km, 4.0 km, and 2.2 km, respectively, and show the trend of reaching peaks in spring and minimums in winter. In terms of frequency distribution, the CTH basically resides below an altitude of 16 km, and approximately 43% of the CBHs are located at altitudes of 0.5–1.5 km. The cloud OF has only one peak located at altitudes of 4–8 km in spring, whereas it shows a trimodal distribution in other seasons. The height at which the cloud OF reaches its peak is highest in summer and lowest in winter. To the best of our knowledge, the cloud properties analyzed here are the first to elucidate the distribution and temporal variation of the CVS in Beijing from a long-term sounding perspective, and these results will provide a scientific observation basis for improving the atmospheric circulation model, as well as comparisons and verifications for measurements by ground-based remote sensing equipment.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/4/401cloud vertical structureradiosonderelative humidityBeijingclimatology |
| spellingShingle | Qing Zhou Yong Zhang Shuze Jia Junli Jin Shanshan Lv Yanan Li Climatology of Cloud Vertical Structures from Long-Term High-Resolution Radiosonde Measurements in Beijing Atmosphere cloud vertical structure radiosonde relative humidity Beijing climatology |
| title | Climatology of Cloud Vertical Structures from Long-Term High-Resolution Radiosonde Measurements in Beijing |
| title_full | Climatology of Cloud Vertical Structures from Long-Term High-Resolution Radiosonde Measurements in Beijing |
| title_fullStr | Climatology of Cloud Vertical Structures from Long-Term High-Resolution Radiosonde Measurements in Beijing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Climatology of Cloud Vertical Structures from Long-Term High-Resolution Radiosonde Measurements in Beijing |
| title_short | Climatology of Cloud Vertical Structures from Long-Term High-Resolution Radiosonde Measurements in Beijing |
| title_sort | climatology of cloud vertical structures from long term high resolution radiosonde measurements in beijing |
| topic | cloud vertical structure radiosonde relative humidity Beijing climatology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/4/401 |
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