EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Heymsfield et al. 2004
Heymsfield, A.J., Schmitt, C.G., Bansemer, A., Baumgardner, D., Weinstock, E.M., Smith, J.T. and Sayres, D. (2004). Effective ice particle densities for cold anvil cirrus. Geophysical Research Letters 31: doi: 10.1029/2003GL018311. issn: 0094-8276.

This study derives effective ice particle densities (ρe) from data collected by the NASA WB-57F aircraft near the tops of Florida anvils during the Cirrus Regional Study of Tropical Anvils and Cirrus Layers (CRYSTAL) Florida Area Cirrus Experiment (FACE). The ρe-ice particle mass divided by the volume of an equivalent diameter liquid sphere-, is obtained for particle populations ($overline{rho_{e}}$) and single sizes from a few to 200--300 ¿m in maximum dimension using measurements of condensed water content and particle size distributions. Density values are needed for numerical modeling of ice cloud microphysical properties and remote sensing retrievals, and have not up to now been characterized for cold ice clouds containing mixed particle habits. The $overline{rho_{e}}$ decrease with increasing slopes of gamma size distributions fitted to the size distributions, ranging from 0.15--0.91 g cm-3. For single sizes, ρe obeys a power-law with an exponent of about -0.4.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Aerosols and particles, Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Evolution of the atmosphere, Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Transmission and scattering of radiation
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit