An Analysis of Shallow Orographic Cumulus Clouds Observed During the CACTI Field Campaign

Abstract:

In 2018, the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Aerial Facility deployed its G-1 research aircraft to the Sierras de Córdoba mountain range in north-central Argentina to support the research of environmental factors on deep convective cycles as part of the Cloud, Aerosol, and Complex Terrain Interactions (CACTI) field campaign. The aircraft was fitted with a suite of instruments measuring atmospheric state, liquid water content, aerosol size and distribution, and cloud droplet number. In this study, we organize the campaign’s 22 flights by environmental conditions. Data from each flight was transected by the aircraft’s position relative to cloud, allowing for in depth analysis of cloud processing on aerosol populations. We present a detailed case study of selected flights where warm, shallow orographic cumulus clouds were observed.