Lu et al. (2026) Vertically Resolved Supercooled Liquid Water over the North China Plain Revealed by Ground-Based Synergetic Measurements

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

Identification

• Journal: Remote Sensing
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-01-04
• Authors: Yuxiang Lu, Qiang Li, H. L Shi, Jiwei Xu, Zhipeng Yang, Yongheng Bi, Xiaoqiong Zhen, Yunjie Xia, Jiujiang Sheng, P. Tian, Disong Fu, Jinqiang Zhang, Shuzhen Hu, Fa Tao, Jiefan Yang, Xuehua Fan, Hongbin Chen, Xiangao Xia
• DOI: 10.3390/rs18010160

Research Groups

Research institutions in Beijing, China.

Short Summary

This study presents the first systematic analysis of supercooled liquid water (SLW) vertical distribution and microphysics over the North China Plain using a year-long ground-based dataset, revealing a distinct bimodal seasonality in SLW altitude and temperature-dependent occurrence.

Objective

• To conduct the first systematic analysis of supercooled liquid water (SLW) vertical distribution and microphysics over the North China Plain.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: North China Plain, specifically Beijing, China.
• Temporal Scale: One year (2022).

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Fuzzy-logic phase classification, liquid water content inversion constrained by column liquid water path.
• Data sources: Ground-based synergistic instruments (Ka-band cloud radar, microwave radiometer, ceilometer, radiosonde data). Validation with in situ aircraft measurements.

Main Results

• Supercooled liquid water (SLW) exhibits a distinct bimodal seasonality in its vertical distribution.
• During spring and summer, SLW primarily occurs at mid-to-upper levels (4–7.5 km), driven by convective lofting.
• During winter, SLW is confined to lower altitudes (1–2 km) under stable atmospheric conditions.
• The temperature-dependent occurrence probability of SLW clouds shows an annual maximum at -12 °C.
• Summer SLW shows diurnal peaks in the afternoon and at night, corresponding to convective cloud activity.
• Spring, autumn, and winter do not exhibit strong diurnal variations in SLW.
• Retrieved microphysical properties (liquid water content and droplet effective radius) are consistent with in situ aircraft measurements.

Contributions

• Provides the first systematic, vertically resolved observational benchmark of supercooled liquid water (SLW) distribution and microphysics over the North China Plain.
• Offers critical insights for improving cloud microphysics parameterizations in atmospheric models.
• Informs the optimization of weather modification strategies (e.g., seeding altitude and timing) in the region.

Funding

Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Lu2026Vertically,
  author = {Lu, Yuxiang and Li, Qiang and Shi, H. L and Xu, Jiwei and Yang, Zhipeng and Bi, Yongheng and Zhen, Xiaoqiong and Xia, Yunjie and Sheng, Jiujiang and Tian, P. and Fu, Disong and Zhang, Jinqiang and Hu, Shuzhen and Tao, Fa and Yang, Jiefan and Fan, Xuehua and Chen, Hongbin and Xia, Xiangao},
  title = {Vertically Resolved Supercooled Liquid Water over the North China Plain Revealed by Ground-Based Synergetic Measurements},
  journal = {Remote Sensing},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.3390/rs18010160},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18010160}
}