Hu et al. (2025) Investigating Aerosol Hygroscopicity in the Subcloud Transition Zone and at the Surface in the Southern Great Plains

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Identification

• Journal: Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-09-10
• Authors: Rong Hu, Zhanqing Li, Tianning Su
• DOI: 10.1029/2024jd041925

Research Groups

U.S. Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program

Short Summary

This study investigates the hygroscopicity and optical properties of aerosols in the subcloud transition zone (SCTZ) and at ground level in the Southern Great Plains, revealing distinct seasonal variations driven by aerosol composition at the surface and cloud fragmentation effects within the SCTZ.

Objective

• To explore the hygroscopicity and optical properties of aerosols in the subcloud transition zone (SCTZ) and at ground level in the Southern Great Plains (SGP) region, analyzing the influence of aerosol hygroscopic growth and cloud fragments.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Southern Great Plains (SGP) region, specifically the Oklahoma SGP site, focusing on vertical profiles from ground level to the subcloud transition zone.
• Temporal Scale: 1 year, from April 2021 to April 2022.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Not specified as an observational study.
• Data sources: Comprehensive observational data from the U.S. Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program at the Oklahoma SGP site, including ground-based aerosol measurements and Raman lidar profiles.

Main Results

• Distinct seasonal variations in aerosol hygroscopic characteristics were revealed.
• At ground level, aerosols in autumn and winter exhibited stronger hygroscopicity due to a higher proportion of inorganic content compared to summer.
• In the SCTZ, aerosols during summer showed enhanced backscatter attributed to strong cloud fragmentation effects, with numerous cloud fragments elevating hygroscopicity beyond that observed in autumn and winter.

Contributions

• Provides crucial insights into the relative contributions of aerosol hygroscopic growth and cloud fragments to aerosol optical properties in the SCTZ.
• Quantifies seasonal variations in aerosol hygroscopic characteristics at both ground level and within the SCTZ, which was previously poorly understood.
• Enhances understanding of surface-cloud layer aerosol interactions, cloud condensation nuclei evaluation beneath clouds, and their implications for atmospheric radiation and climate modeling.

Funding

• U.S. Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program.

Citation

@article{Hu2025Investigating,
  author = {Hu, Rong and Li, Zhanqing and Su, Tianning},
  title = {Investigating Aerosol Hygroscopicity in the Subcloud Transition Zone and at the Surface in the Southern Great Plains},
  journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1029/2024jd041925},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1029/2024jd041925}
}