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Cloud Radiative Forcing over Sea Ice in the Arctic during the Polar Night According to North Pole-37, -39, and -40 Drifting Stations

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Abstract

In the paper, we present the results of an analysis of ceilometer measurements at North Pole (NP) drifting station 37, 39, and 40. The frequencies of the total cloud amount (in tenth) = TCA and the cloud base heights (CBHs) are calculated for the period of the polar night. A comparison of the cloud-cover score according to the ceilometer data with the visual observation data showed good agreement. However, the value of the correlation coefficient depends on the interpretation of the ceilometer data. In general, a bimodal distribution of the cloud-cover score with the highest frequency of clear sky and overcast clouds are characteristic for indicated stations. The analysis of the frequency of the CBH showed that the most characteristic CBHs are below 600 m. In November, cloud heights in the range of 1000–2000 m are also observed, while their frequency decreases during the winter. Cloudiness during the polar night is characterized by a strong positive radiative forcing, which has a warming effect on the surface temperature of ice and air. However, cloud radiative forcing, as well as the cloudiness frequency and its effect on the temperature regime, varies significantly from station to station. These differences may become the subject of further research on the interrelation of cloud characteristics with other processes in the Arctic climate system. These statistical estimates significantly supplement the available data on the cloud cover of the Central Arctic.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project no. 18-77-10072.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, 199397, St. Petersburg, Russia

    I. A. Makhotina & A. P. Makshtas

  2. Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119017, Moscow, Russia

    D. G. Chechin

Authors
  1. I. A. Makhotina
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  2. D. G. Chechin
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  3. A. P. Makshtas
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Correspondence to I. A. Makhotina.

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Translated by A. Ivanov

The paper was prepared based on an oral report presented at the All-Russian conference “Turbulence, dynamics of the atmosphere and climate” dedicated to the memory of Academician A. M. Obukhov (Moscow, November 10–12, 2020).

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Makhotina, I.A., Chechin, D.G. & Makshtas, A.P. Cloud Radiative Forcing over Sea Ice in the Arctic during the Polar Night According to North Pole-37, -39, and -40 Drifting Stations. Izv. Atmos. Ocean. Phys. 57, 451–460 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001433821050091

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001433821050091

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