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Abstract

Mixed-phase clouds (MPCs), composed of both liquid and ice, are prevalent in Southern Ocean cyclones. A characterization of these clouds on fine vertical scales is required in order to understand the microphysical processes within these clouds, and for model and satellite evaluations over this region. We investigated three examples of cloud systems collected by ship-mounted remote-sensing instruments adjacent to East Antarctica at latitudes between 64°S and 69°S. These cases allow us to examine the properties of midlevel MPCs, with cloud tops between 2 and 6 km. Midlevel MPCs contain multiple layers of supercooled liquid water (SLW) embedded within ice during the passage of cyclones. SLW layers are capped by strong temperature inversions and are observed at temperatures as low as −31°C. Convective generating cells (GCs) are present inside supercooled liquid-topped midlevel MPCs. The horizontal extent, vertical extent, and maximum upward Doppler velocity of these GCs were 0.6–3.6 km, 0.7–1.0 km, and 0.5–1.0 m s−1, respectively, and are consistent with observations from previous lower-latitude studies. Ice precipitation is nearly ubiquitous, except in the thinnest clouds at the trailing end of the observed systems. Seeding of lower SLW layers from above leads to periods with either larger ice particles or greater ice precipitation rates. Periods of supercooled drizzle lasting up to 2 h were observed toward the end of two of the three cyclone systems. This supercooled drizzle turns into predominantly ice precipitation as the result of seeding by ice clouds located above the precipitating SLW layer.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Alexander, SP and McFarquhar, GM and Marchand, R and Protat, A and Vignon, E and Mace, GG and Klekociuk, AR
Keywords:	lidar, mixed-phase clouds, precipitation, radar, Southern Ocean
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
Publisher:	Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Inc.
ISSN:	2169-897X
DOI / ID Number:	https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JD033626
Copyright Information:	© 2021. Commonwealth of Australia. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres. © 2021. American Geophysical Union
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