Arctic Mixed-Phase Clouds
Lagrangian modeling validated against MOSAiC observations
Arctic mixed-phase clouds are persistent features of the polar atmosphere, containing both liquid droplets and ice crystals. These clouds play a critical role in the Arctic surface energy budget and are notoriously difficult to simulate correctly.
Research Focus
At CIRES, I work with Dr. Graham Feingold to investigate Arctic mixed-phase cloud stability using:
- Lagrangian Cloud Model (LCM) simulations that explicitly track individual hydrometeors
- MOSAiC observational data from the year-long Arctic drift expedition
- Process-level analysis of cloud-aerosol-radiation interactions
Key Questions
- What controls the stability of Arctic mixed-phase clouds?
- How do microphysical processes influence cloud longevity?
- Can we improve climate model representations of polar clouds?
Related Publications
- Zhang, Painemal, Dror, Lim et al. (2025): Inferring processes governing cloud transition during mid-latitude marine cold-air outbreaks from satellite. ACP (in review)