Cloud Type Classification Product Released for COMBLE Campaign

Time-height displays show reflectivity and cloud types on April 14, 2020, near Andenes, Norway, during the Cold-Air Outbreaks in the Marine Boundary Layer Experiment (COMBLE). The bottom plot calls out cirrus, cirrostratus, altostratus, altocumulus, deep convection, congestus, and low clouds. The y-axes of the plots are from 0 to 20,000 meters. — Time-height displays show reflectivity (top) and cloud types (bottom) on April 14, 2020, near Andenes, Norway, during the Cold-Air Outbreaks in the Marine Boundary Layer Experiment (COMBLE).

The Cloud Type Classification value-added product (CLDTYPE VAP) is now available for the 2019–2020 Cold-Air Outbreaks in the Marine Boundary Layer Experiment (COMBLE) deployment near Andenes, Norway.

CLDTYPE provides an automated cloud type classification based on macrophysical quantities derived from vertically pointing lidar and radar at sites operated by the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility. Up to 10 layers of clouds are classified into seven cloud types based on predetermined and site-specific thresholds of cloud top height, cloud base height, and thickness.

Scientists can use the new CLDTYPE data now. Access the data in the ARM Data Center. (Go here to create an account to download the data.)

More information about CLDTYPE can be found on the VAP web page. For questions about the VAP, please contact ARM translator Damao Zhang or developer Krista Gaustad.

To cite the CLDTYPE data, please use doi:10.5439/1349884.

Cloud Type Classification Product Released for COMBLE Campaign

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