A comprehensive study on Microphysical Parameters of Marine Clouds over Palau in Tropical Western Pacific Ocean

Abstract

The tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans, unique atmosphere-ocean coupled newlinephenomena have greater impact on global weather and climate change. In addition, newlineocean-atmosphere interaction is imperative for coupled ocean-atmosphere modelling and newlinenumerical weather prediction. A very few field experiments focused on the marine newlineboundary layer and precipitating cloud structure, as well as their diurnal cycle. Hence, an newlineattempt is made to understand the certain aspects/issues related to microphysical newlinecharacteristics of precipitating clouds and marine boundary layer by using in-situ and newlineremote sensing instruments. newlineInstitute of Observational Research for Global Change/Japan Agency for Marine- newlineEarth Science and Technology Center (IORGC/JAMSTEC), Yokosuka, Japan has been newlineconducted the PALAU (Pacific Area Long-term Atmospheric observation for the newlineUnderstanding of climate change) observational project over Aimeliik state of Babeldaob newlineIsland (7.45° N; 134.47° E) of Republic of Palau since March 2003. An attempt has been newlinemade to study the variability of Rain drop-size distribution, occurrence of shallow newlinecumulus convection and vertical structure of marine boundary layer in shallow cumulus convection and microphysical characteristics of melting layer/bright band during westerly newlineand easterly monsoon over Palau in the Pacific Ocean. newlineCharacteristics of precipitating clouds in the Marine Boundary Layer is not easy newlineto measure and a single meteorological sensor never enough to depict the whole picture. newlineThere are no ground-based instruments which can do it all. Different sensors have to be newlinecombined in a clever, synergistic way. The combination of instruments [L-band Wind newlineprofiler Radar, Joss-Waldvogel disdrometer, Automatic Weather Station and supporting newlineinstrumental data (SST, TRMM-PR, MODIS and radiosonde)] should give better newlineaccuracy of the individual sensors. newline