Hair et al. (2026) Vertical Profiles of Cloud Extinction and Cloud Top Droplet Number Concentration in Warm Clouds Derived from Airborne Lidar and Polarimeter Measurements

⚠️ Warning: This summary was generated from the abstract only, as the full text was not available.

Identification

• Journal: Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology)
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-04-09
• Authors: Johnathan Hair, Brian Cairns, Richard Ferrare, Chris A. Hostetler, Ewan Crosbie, Yongxiang Hu, Taylor Shingler, Mikhail Alexandrov, Andrzej Wasilewski, Marta Fenn, Rich Moore, Luke Ziemba, Christiane Voigt, Simon Kirschler, Armin Sorooshian
• DOI: 10.1051/epjconf/202636202004/pdf

Research Groups

• NASA Langley Research Center
• Goddard Institute for Space Systems Research Center

Short Summary

This study combines airborne High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL-2) and Scanning Polarimeter (RSP) remote sensing measurements with in situ data from a multiyear campaign over the North Atlantic Ocean to derive and compare cloud top droplet number density (Nd).

Objective

• To derive cloud top droplet number density (Nd) by combining airborne remote sensing measurements from HSRL-2 lidar and RSP polarimeter.
• To compare Nd derived from these remote sensing measurements with concurrent in situ measurements.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: North Atlantic Ocean, focusing on shallow marine clouds.
• Temporal Scale: Multiyear field campaign (2020-2022).

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Not explicitly mentioned for data processing, but the methodology relies on instrument data products.
• Data sources:
  • Airborne remote sensing: NASA Langley Research Center's High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL-2) providing profiles of cloud top extinction and average lidar ratios; Goddard Institute for Space Systems Research Center's Scanning Polarimeter (RSP) providing size distribution parameters.
  • Airborne in situ measurements: From a coordinated aircraft, for comparison.

Main Results

• Presentation of data products from HSRL-2 (cloud top extinction, lidar ratios) and RSP (size distribution parameters).
• Derivation of cloud top droplet number density (Nd) by combining lidar and polarimeter measurements.
• Comparison of Nd derived from remote sensing with Nd from in situ measurements.

Contributions

• First-time presentation of combined HSRL-2 lidar and RSP polarimeter data products for deriving cloud top droplet number density.
• Direct comparison of remotely sensed cloud top droplet number density with concurrent in situ measurements, advancing understanding of aerosol-cloud interactions.

Funding

• Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Hair2026Vertical,
  author = {Hair, Johnathan and Cairns, Brian and Ferrare, Richard and Hostetler, Chris A. and Crosbie, Ewan and Hu, Yongxiang and Shingler, Taylor and Alexandrov, Mikhail and Wasilewski, Andrzej and Fenn, Marta and Moore, Rich and Ziemba, Luke and Voigt, Christiane and Kirschler, Simon and Sorooshian, Armin},
  title = {Vertical Profiles of Cloud Extinction and Cloud Top Droplet Number Concentration in Warm Clouds Derived from Airborne Lidar and Polarimeter Measurements},
  journal = {Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology)},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1051/epjconf/202636202004/pdf},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202636202004/pdf}
}