Spectral optical layer properties of cirrus from collocated airborne measurements – a feasibility study

Abstract. Spectral optical layer properties of cirrus are derived from simultaneous and vertically collocated measurements of spectral upward and downward solar irradiance above and below the cloud layer and concurrent in situ microphysical sampling. From the irradiance data spectral transmissivity, absorptivity, reflectivity, and cloud top albedo of the observed cirrus layer are obtained. At the same time microphysical properties of the cirrus were sampled. The close collocation of the radiative and microphysical measurements, above, beneath and inside the cirrus, is obtained by using a research aircraft (Learjet 35A) in tandem with a towed platform called AIRTOSS (AIRcraft TOwed Sensor Shuttle). AIRTOSS can be released from and retracted back to the research aircraft by means of a cable up to a distance of 4 km. Data were collected in two field campaigns above the North and Baltic Sea in spring and late summer 2013. Exemplary results from one measuring flight are discussed also to illustrate the benefits of collocated sampling. Based on the measured cirrus microphysical properties, radiative transfer simulations were applied to quantify the impact of cloud particle properties such as crystal shape, effective radius reff, and optical thickness τ on cirrus optical layer properties. The effects of clouds beneath the cirrus are evaluated in addition. They cause differences in the layer properties of the cirrus by a factor of 2 to 3, and for cirrus radiative forcing by up to a factor of 4. If low-level clouds below cirrus are not considered the solar cooling due to the cirrus is significantly overestimated.