Remote sensing of clouds

• Supervisors: Dr Jonathan Crosier
  Prof Tom Choularton
  
  
  
• External Supervisors:
  
  
• Contact:

  Jonathan Crosier – j.crosier@manchester.ac.uk

• CASE Partner: No

Application deadline: 3 February 2017

Clouds interact with solar and terrestrial radiation, imparting cooling and warming effects on the earth’s climate. The net effect of a cloud on the climate is determined by the cloud microphysical properties (particle phase, shape and number density) and the radiative environment in which it is embedded. Monitoring of cloud properties on a global scale is conducted by a variety of polar orbiting and geo-stationary satellites. These platforms typically utilise spectrally resolved radiances in the visible, infra-red and microwave regions of the electromagnetic spectrum to retrieve bulk microphysical properties. Other “active” techniques for observing clouds include the use of Doppler RADAR and LIDAR systems. These data products are used to monitor the response of the environment to changes in radiative forcing, and also to assess the performance of climate models. Cloud are also monitored using ground-based platforms, from long term stations, or from temporary installations setup to study specific process on shorter time scales.

The overall aim of this project is to assess and develop retrievals of cloud properties from remote sensing instrumentation using observations from a research aircraft. This will allow biases in data products to be identified and reduced, resulting in improved capability to assess climate model performance.

The project will start by reviewing the methodologies of operational retrievals from remote sensing systems. The student will then assess the validity of some of these retrievals using co-located in-situ and remote sensing observations from the UK BAE146 research aircraft (www.faam.ac.uk). These observations will be from a collection of previous and upcoming research projects. There is also potential for the student to participate in field work on-board the research aircraft to obtain new measurements.

The student will develop skills in the areas of instrumentation, calibration, radiative transfer/numerical simulations, data inversion and data analysis. The Centre for Atmospheric Science in Manchester has a rich heritage in in-situ observations, which places it in prime position to participate in satellite validation activities. The student would also collaborate with researchers from the UK Met Office who have world leading capability in radiometric instrumentation.

Full training would be given at the University of Manchester in the use of remote sensing data under the guidance of the supervisory team, with the potential for short placements at the UK Met Office and at FAAM to learn about instrument operation principles and measurement techniques. This project would suit those graduates with a strong physical science and/or mathematical background. The data analysis tasks will require excellent problem solving skills and those with a willingness to develop tailored scientific analysis algorithms (e.g. using scientific programming languages – with full training).

King, N. J., Bower, K. N., Crosier, J., and Crawford, I.: Evaluating MODIS cloud retrievals with in situ observations from VOCALS-REx, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 191-209 

Crosier, J., Choularton, T. W., Westbrook, C. D., Blyth, A. M., Bower, K. N., Connolly, P. J., … Nicol, J. C. (2014). Microphysical properties of cold frontal rainbands. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 140(681), 1257–1268. doi:10.1002/qj.2206 

Crosier, J., Bower, K. N., Choularton, T. W., Westbrook, C. D., Connolly, P. J., Cui, Z. Q., Crawford, I. P., et al. (2011). Observations of ice multiplication in a weakly convective cell embedded in supercooled mid-level stratus. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 11(1), 257–273. doi:10.5194/acp-11-257-2011

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