Lack of correlation between chlorophyll <i>a</i> and cloud droplet effective radius in shallow marine clouds

Miller, M. A.; Yuter, Sandra E.

doi:10.1029/2008gl034354

Cited by 14 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…For instance, Lana et al [2012] find a remarkably strong negative correlation on a basin-wide scale between cloud effective radius derived from cloud property retrievals using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data [Platnick et al, 2003] and a quantity related to the flux of dimethyl sulfide (DMS), a secondary organic aerosol precursor gas that is emitted to the atmosphere as a by-product of phytoplankton physiology. At a more local scale, Meskhidze and Nenes [2006] correlate MODIS cloud properties with specific plankton blooms in the SO although Miller and Yuter [2008] caution that such correlations found from local studies should be interpreted carefully. Sorooshian et al [2009] examining aircraft data collected near the coast of California conducted such a careful study and found a quantifiable but weak relationship between marine biogenic emissions and cloud properties.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal variability of warm boundary layer cloud and precipitation properties in the Southern Ocean as diagnosed from A‐Train data

Mace

Avey

2017

JGR Atmospheres

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The extensive cloudiness and resulting high albedo of the Southern Oceans (SO) are predominantly due to the occurrence of widespread marine boundary layer clouds. Recent work finds correlations between biogenically enhanced cloud condensation nuclei concentrations and cloud droplet number concentrations derived from passive satellite data. The active remote sensors in the A‐Train have created a unique and long‐term record of these clouds that include vertical profiles of radar reflectivity and microwave brightness temperature from CloudSat that can be combined with solar reflectances from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer. We examine this data record using a unique algorithm to infer warm‐topped cloud and precipitation properties. We find seasonal variations in cloud properties where summer season clouds demonstrate higher cloud droplet number concentrations on average and require higher liquid water contents to produce similar precipitation rates.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal variability of warm boundary layer cloud and precipitation properties in the Southern Ocean as diagnosed from A‐Train data

Mace

Avey

2017

JGR Atmospheres

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“…Electron microscopy observations of marine aerosols depict a variety of heterogeneous particle constructions, with, e.g., organic polymers internally mixed with sulfuric acid or sea salt crystals (Leck and Bigg, 1999. The view that new aerosols and CCN are formed by homogeneous nucleation and further condensation of vapors is too simplistic; H 2 SO 4 nucleation is indeed enhanced by organics and ammonium, and growth to CCN activation occurs by organic condensation (e.g., Hegg et al, 1990;Covert et al, 1992;Kulmala et al, 2004;Zhang et al, 2004;Meskhidze and Nenes, 2006;Metzger et al, 2010). But also tiny primary aerosols get activated as CCN by condensational growth or by absorption of surface active and hygroscopic compounds Leck and Bigg, 2005;O'Dowd and Leeuw, 2007).…”

Section: Uncertainties and Future Research Needsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential for a biogenic influence on cloud microphysics over the ocean: a correlation study with satellite-derived data

Lana

Simó

Vallina³

et al. 2012

Atmos. Chem. Phys.

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Abstract. Aerosols have a large potential to influence climate through their effects on the microphysics and optical properties of clouds and, hence, on the Earth's radiation budget. Aerosol-cloud interactions have been intensively studied in polluted air, but the possibility that the marine biosphere plays an important role in regulating cloud brightness in the pristine oceanic atmosphere remains largely unexplored. We used 9 yr of global satellite data and ocean climatologies to derive parameterizations of the temporal variability of (a) production fluxes of sulfur aerosols formed by the oxidation of the biogenic gas dimethylsulfide emitted from the sea surface; (b) production fluxes of secondary organic aerosols from biogenic organic volatiles; (c) emission fluxes of biogenic primary organic aerosols ejected by wind action on sea surface; and (d) emission fluxes of sea salt also lifted by the wind upon bubble bursting. Series of global monthly estimates of these fluxes were correlated to series of potential cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) numbers derived from satellite (MODIS). More detailed comparisons among weekly series of estimated fluxes and satellite-derived cloud droplet effective radius (r e ) data were conducted at locations spread among polluted and clean regions of the oceanic atmosphere. The outcome of the statistical analysis was that positive correlation to CCN numbers and negative correlation to r e were common at mid and high latitude for sulfur and organic secondary aerosols, indicating both might be important in seeding cloud droplet activation. Conversely, primary aerosols (organic and sea salt) showed widespread positive correlations to CCN only at low latitudes. Correlations to r e were more variable, non-significant or positive, suggesting that, despite contributing to large shares of the marine aerosol mass, primary aerosols are not widespread major drivers of the variability of cloud microphysics. Validation against ground measurements pointed out that the parameterizations used captured fairly well the variability of aerosol production fluxes in most cases, yet some caution is warranted because there is room for further improvement, particularly for primary organic aerosol. Uncertainties and synergies are discussed, and recommendations of research needs are given.

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“…Other studies suggest that much of the organic material is water-insoluble when emitted from the ocean , but that SOA of marine origin can also contribute to particle growth (Vaattavorra et al, 2006). Meskhidze and Nenes (2006) suggested that marine isoprene emissions could explain observed correlations between chlorophyll and cloud drop sizes observed by satellite, but a follow-up study (Miller and Yuter, 2008) casts doubt on the correlations. Furthermore, the abundance of atmospheric marine OC is much higher than can be explained in terms of isoprene emissions alone (Spracklen et al, 2008c;Palmer and Shaw, 2005;Arnold et al, 2009), suggesting that primary emissions may dominate (Leck and Bigg, 2007).…”

Section: Marine Organic Primary and Secondary Aerosolmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of natural aerosol interactions and feedbacks within the Earth system

et al. 2010

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Abstract.The natural environment is a major source of atmospheric aerosols, including dust, secondary organic material from terrestrial biogenic emissions, carbonaceous particles from wildfires, and sulphate from marine phytoplankton dimethyl sulphide emissions. These aerosols also have a significant effect on many components of the Earth system such as the atmospheric radiative balance and photosynthetically available radiation entering the biosphere, the supply of nutrients to the ocean, and the albedo of snow and ice. The physical and biological systems that produce these aerosols can be highly susceptible to modification due to climate change so there is the potential for important climate feedbacks. We review the impact of these natural systems on atmospheric aerosol based on observations and models, including the potential for long term changes in emissions and the feedbacks on climate. The number of drivers of change is very large and the various systems are strongly coupled. There have therefore been very few studies that integrate the various effects to estimate climate feedback factors. Nevertheless, available observations and model studies suggest that the regional radiative perturbations are potentially several Watts per square metre due to changes in these natural aerosol emissions in a future climate. Taking into account only the direct radiative effect of changes in the atmospheric burden of natural aerosols, and neglecting potentially large effects on other parts of the Earth system, a global mean radiative perturbation approaching 1 W m −2 is possible by the end of the century. The level of scientific understanding of the climate drivers, interactions and impacts is very low.

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Lack of correlation between chlorophyll a and cloud droplet effective radius in shallow marine clouds

Cited by 14 publications

References 12 publications

Seasonal variability of warm boundary layer cloud and precipitation properties in the Southern Ocean as diagnosed from A‐Train data

Seasonal variability of warm boundary layer cloud and precipitation properties in the Southern Ocean as diagnosed from A‐Train data

Potential for a biogenic influence on cloud microphysics over the ocean: a correlation study with satellite-derived data

A review of natural aerosol interactions and feedbacks within the Earth system

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