Logo image
Back
New airborne research facility observes sensitivity of cumulus cloud microphysical properties to aerosol regime over the great barrier reef
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

New airborne research facility observes sensitivity of cumulus cloud microphysical properties to aerosol regime over the great barrier reef

Diana C. Hernandez-Jaramillo, Chris Medcraft, Ramon Campos Braga, Peter Butcherine, Adrian Doss, Brendan Kelaher, Daniel Rosenfeld and Daniel P. Harrison
Environmental science: atmospheres, Vol.4(8), pp.861-871
08/08/2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4EA00009A
Appears in  Recent Faculty of Science and Engineering Publications
pdf
New airborne research facility observes sensitivity of cumulus cloud microphysical properties to aerosol regime over the great barrier reef2.34 MBDownloadView
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0,  Open Access
url
New airborne research facility observes sensitivity of cumulus cloud microphysical properties to aerosol regime over the great barrier reefView
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0,  Open

Related links

Metrics

16 File views/ downloads
121 Record Views
9 Times Cited - Web of Science

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#2 Zero Hunger
#3 Good Health and Well-Being
#7 Affordable and Clean Energy
#9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
#11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
#13 Climate Action
#14 Life Below Water
#15 Life on Land

Source: InCites

Abstract

Environmental Sciences Environmental Sciences & Ecology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences Physical Sciences Science & Technology
Our work on aerosol–cloud–radiation interactions became hamstrung by the lack of a suitable aerosol and cloud microphysics equipped aircraft in Australia. To address this infrastructure gap, we have established a new airborne research platform, designed primarily for Marine Cloud Brightening (MCB) field studies but with broader applicability across diverse airborne research domains. This platform, comprising a Cessna 337 aircraft was outfitted with a comprehensive suite of meteorological, aerosol, and cloud microphysical instrumentation normally only found on much larger aircrafts. The aircraft has completed its first field deployment over the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) supporting the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program. Here we present details of the platform configuration, a flight summary of its first campaign and a case study illustrating the capabilities of the new platform. In the case study presented, data was collected from two well-developed cumulus cloud cells which were similar in macrophysical properties but formed under markedly different aerosol regimes. We observed a strong difference in cloud microphysical properties. Higher aerosol concentrations led to more numerous and smaller cloud drops and suppressed warm rain. Our observations are consistent with the hypothesis that cumulus clouds, dominant over the GBR during summer, are amenable to marine cloud brightening. Our results demonstrate the practical utility of the new research aircraft through a focused case study, laying the groundwork for future scientific investigations of aerosol–cloud interactions.

Details

Logo image