El Dia 2026 Oral Presentation Abstract

Presenter: Anik Das

Co-Authors: Xiquan Dong, Baike Xi

Title: Investigating Southern Ocean Cloud Macro- and Microphysical Properties over the Southern Ocean across multiple platforms.

Abstract:

Marine boundary layer (MBL) clouds play a central role in Earth’s radiative balance, yet their microphysical structure remains poorly constrained over data-sparse regions such as the Southern Ocean (SO). This work builds on a radar–in situ framework utilizing measurements collected during the Southern Ocean Cloud, Aerosol Transport Experimental Study (SOCRATES) aircraft-campaign that first establishes cloud boundaries and phase in single-layer MBL clouds using airborne radar and probe observations, providing the necessary context for subsequent microphysical retrievals. The primary focus is on developing and extending empirical relationships that link radar reflectivity to key microphysical properties — effective radius and liquid water content, derived from aircraft observations of cloud and drizzle particle size distributions. These relationships are evaluated using airborne and ship-based radar measurements across multiple SO campaigns, demonstrating consistent performance across platforms and environmental conditions. These retrievals are then applied to satellite and shipborne cloud radar observations to enable a coordinated comparison among airborne, ship-based, and satellite datasets over the SO. This multi-platform analysis examines MBL cloud and drizzle structure across spatial and temporal scales and differing radar viewing geometries, allowing rigorous assessment of retrieval consistency, as well as differences in sensitivity, resolution, and sampling. By integrating observations from multiple platforms, this study aims to improve confidence in satellite-derived microphysical properties, refine understanding of SO MBL cloud processes, and provide stronger observational constraints for evaluating climate models and future observing systems.