What question did this study set out to answer?

Evaluate the operational performance of CloudSat's Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR) during its initial year and characterize global cloud vertical structure, precipitation occurrence, and radiative heating.

April 27, 2008Journal of Geophysical Research AtmospheresOpen Access

CloudSat mission: Performance and early science after the first year of operation

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Authors

GSGraeme L. StephensNSF National Center for Atmospheric Research DVD. VaneJet Propulsion Laboratory STSimone TanelliJet Propulsion Laboratory

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Implication

Satellite observation study reveals vertical cloud structures and precipitation dynamics, indicating higher ice water paths and atmospheric radiative heating than climate models predict.

Key Points

Evaluate the operational performance of CloudSat's Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR) during its initial year and characterize global cloud vertical structure, precipitation occurrence, and radiative heating.
Operated the space-borne 94-GHz Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR) continuously starting 2 June 2006.
Combined radar backscatter measurements with multi-sensor data from the A-Train satellite constellation to generate vertical profiles of clouds, ice water path, and precipitation.
Approximately 11% of oceanic clouds produce surface-reaching precipitation, with warm precipitating clouds exhibiting greater cloud depth, larger particle sizes, and substantially higher optical depth and solar reflectance than nonprecipitating clouds.
Observed global ice water paths are systematically larger than estimates generated by most climate models.
Clouds induce a net radiative heating of the global mean atmospheric column of approximately 10 W m⁻² relative to clear sky, with infrared absorption varying significantly with latitude.

Cite This Study

Stephens et al. (2008) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a11cd50a84ddbb210fd449f https://doi.org/10.1029/2008jd009982

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Implication

Satellite observation study reveals vertical cloud structures and precipitation dynamics, indicating higher ice water paths and atmospheric radiative heating than climate models predict.

CloudSat mission: Performance and early science after the first year of operation

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

CloudSat mission: Performance and early science after the first year of operation

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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