Project A01:
Aerosol-Cloud inTeraction and water Vapour transport in high UPdraft regimes (ACTIV-UP)

Brief Summary

Convective processes play a critical role in the Earth’s energy balance through the redistribution of heat, moisture and aerosols in the atmosphere. They are characterized by high updrafts with turbulent and diabatic processes where cloud formation and cloud properties differ from those formed in mid-latitude frontal systems. Particularly ice clouds evolving at the top of deep convective systems – so called anvil cirrus – exert a net heating at the top of the atmosphere. Locally, they can transport water vapor efficiently into the UTLS and the stratosphere e.g. in overshooting anvil tops. The representation of subgrid-scale convective cloud processes in models is yet a challenge and requires adequate parametrizations based on robust observations of cloud properties and water vapor transport pathways. The aerosol impact on cloud formation in convective systems has been the focus in many aerosol cloud interaction studies. However, disentangling the relative impact of the aerosol type and concentration and updraft velocities on the microphysical cloud properties over the lifetime of a convective cloud is one of the largest remaining questions in anthropogenic climate forcing and requires dedicated observations. Particularly the impact of aerosol concentration and updraft velocities as well as the impact of radiative and latent heating on ice particle number and ice mass concentrations in the anvil are important parameters to assess their climate impact.
Spaceborne observations of aerosol and cloud particle number that provide a large dataset on liquid and cirrus cloud properties have significantly advanced in the past. However observations of small scale processes that determine the life cycle of convective systems and anvil clouds need to be validated with high resolution measurements to improve retrieval methods for global observations. Here we attempt to partially fill this gap by proposing new in-situ measurements from a dedicated aircraft campaign with the DLR-Falcon 20 to detect water vapor, aerosol and cloud properties as well as updraft velocities in convective systems in the UTLS above continental Europe and the Mediterranean Sea. In-situ measurements of water vapor, the particle size distribution (PSD), as well as chemical and microphysical properties of aerosol and clouds will be performed in central and southern Europe in autumn 2021. The following research questions will be addressed: What is the aerosol concentration in the inflow region of convection above continental Europe and the Mediterranean Sea? Is there a measurable effect of pollutants on the PSD in convective systems? How do high-updraft regimes and diabatic processes change the water vapor distribution in the UT, the turbulent H₂O flux into the LS and the radiation budget of the UTLS? Is the water vapor distribution near convection well represented in numerical weather prediction models? How do the cloud properties in convective cirrus differ from cirrus formed in other high updraft regimes such as WCBs? How do these processes affect the UTLS radiation budget and climate?

Members

Publications

Ehrlich, A., S. Crewell, A. Herber, M. Klingebiel, C. Lüpkes, M. Mech, S. Becker, S. Borrmann, H. Bozem, M. Buschmann, H.-C. Clemen, E. De La Torre Castro, H. Dorff, R. Dupuy, O. Eppers, F. Ewald, G. George, A. Giez, S. Grawe, C. Gourbeyre, J. Hartmann, E. Jäkel, P. Joppe, O. Jourdan, Z. Jurányi, B. Kirbus, J. Lucke, A. E. Luebke, M. Maahn, N. Maherndl, C. Mallaun, J. Mayer, S. Mertes, G. Mioche, M. Moser, H. Müller, V. Pörtge, N. Risse, G. Roberts, S. Rosenburg, J. Röttenbacher, M. Schäfer, J. Schaefer, A. Schäfler, I. Schirmacher, J. Schneider, S. Schnitt, F. Stratmann, C. Tatzelt, C. Voigt, A. Walbröl, A. Weber, B. Wetzel, M. Wirth, and M. Wendisch (2025): A comprehensive in situ and remote sensing data set collected during the HALO–(AC)3 aircraft campaign. Earth System Science Data 17 (3), 1295–1328. doi: 10.5194/essd-17-1295-2025.

Jurkat-Witschas, T., C. Voigt, S. Groß, S. Kaufmann, D. Sauer, E. De la Torre Castro, M. Kramer, A. Schäfler, A. Afchine, R. Attinger, I. Bartolome Garcia, C. Beer, L. Bugliaro, H.-C. Clemen, G. Dekoutsidis, A. Dörnbrack, A. Ehrlich, S. Grawe, V. Hahn, J. Hendricks, E. Järvinen, T. Klimach, K. Krüger, O. Krüger, J. Lucke, A. Luebke, A. Marsing, B. Mayer, J. Mayer, S. Mertes, M. Moser, H. Müller, M. Pöhlker, U. Pöschl, M. Pörtge V.and Rautenhaus, M. Righi, J. Röttenbacher, C. Rolf, J. Schaefer, M. Schnaiter, J. Schneider, U. Schumann, N. Spelten, F. Stratmann, L. Tomsche, H. Wagner, S. Wagner, Z. Wang, A. Weber, M. Wendisch, H. Wernli, B. Wetzel, M. Wirth, A. Zahn, H. Ziereis, and M. Zöger (2025): CIRRUS-HL: Picturing the high- and mid-latitude summer cirrus and contrail cirrus above Europe with airborne measurements aboard the research aircraft HALO. Bull. Amer. Meteorol. Soc., [Accepted].

Li, X.-Y., H. Wang, M. W. Christensen, J. Chen, S. Tang, S. Kirschler, E. Crosbie, L. D. Ziemba, D. Painemal, A. F. Corral, K. A. McCauley, S. Dmitrovic, A. Sorooshian, M. Fenn, J. S. Schlosser, S. Stamnes, J. W. Hair, B. Cairns, R. Moore, R. A. Ferrare, M. A. Shook, Y. Choi, G. S. Diskin, J. DiGangi, J. B. Nowak, C. Robinson, T. J. Shingler, K. Lee Thornhill, and C. Voigt (2024): Process Modeling of Aerosol-Cloud Interaction in Summertime Precipitating Shallow Cumulus Over the Western North Atlantic. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres 129 (7), e2023JD039489. doi: https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JD039489.

Maherndl, N., M. Moser, J. Lucke, M. Mech, N. Risse, I. Schirmacher, and M. Maahn (2024): Quantifying riming from airborne data during the HALO-(AC)3 campaign. Atmospheric Measurement Techniques 17 (5), 1475–1495. doi: 10.5194/amt-17-1475-2024.

De La Torre Castro, E., T. Jurkat-Witschas, A. Afchine, V. Grewe, V. Hahn, S. Kirschler, M. Krämer, J. Lucke, N. Spelten, H. Wernli, M. Zöger, and C. Voigt (2023): Differences in microphysical properties of cirrus at high and mid-latitudes. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 23 (20), 13167–13189. doi: 10.5194/acp-23-13167-2023.

Groß, S., T. Jurkat-Witschas, Q. Li, M. Wirth, B. Urbanek, M. Krämer, R. Weigel, and C. Voigt (2023): Investigating an indirect aviation effect on mid-latitude cirrus clouds – linking lidar-derived optical properties to in situ measurements. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 23 (14), 8369–8381. doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-8369-2023.

Kirschler, S., C. Voigt, B. E. Anderson, G. Chen, E. C. Crosbie, R. A. Ferrare, V. Hahn, J. W. Hair, S. Kaufmann, R. H. Moore, D. Painemal, C. E. Robinson, K. J. Sanchez, A. J. Scarino, T. J. Shingler, M. A. Shook, K. L. Thornhill, E. L. Winstead, L. D. Ziemba, and A. Sorooshian (2023): Overview and statistical analysis of boundary layer clouds and precipitation over the western North Atlantic Ocean. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 23 (18), 10731–10750. doi: 10.5194/acp-23-10731-20.

Li, X.-Y., H. Wang, J. Chen, S. Endo, S. Kirschler, C. Voigt, E. Crosbie, L. D. Ziemba, D. Painemal, B. Cairns, J. W. Hair, A. F. Corral, C. Robinson, H. Dadashazar, A. Sorooshian, G. Chen, R. A. Ferrare, M. M. Kleb, H. Liu, R. Moore, A. J. Scarino, M. A. Shook, T. J. Shingler, K. L. Thornhill, F. Tornow, H. Xiao, and X. Zeng (2023): Large-Eddy Simulations of Marine Boundary Layer Clouds Associated with Cold-Air Outbreaks during the ACTIVATE Campaign. Part II: Aerosol–Meteorology–Cloud Interaction. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences 80 (4), 1025–1045. doi: https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-21-0324.1.

Moser, M., C. Voigt, T. Jurkat-Witschas, V. Hahn, G. Mioche, O. Jourdan, R. Dupuy, C. Gourbeyre, A. Schwarzenboeck, J. Lucke, Y. Boose, M. Mech, S. Borrmann, A. Ehrlich, A. Herber, C. Lüpkes, and M. Wendisch (2023): Microphysical and thermodynamic phase analyses of Arctic low-level clouds measured above the sea ice and the open ocean in spring and summer. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 23 (13), 7257–7280. doi: 10.5194/acp-23-7257-202.

Sorooshian, A., M. D. Alexandrov, A. D. Bell, R. Bennett, G. Betito, S. P. Burton, M. E. Buzanowicz, B. Cairns, E. V. Chemyakin, G. Chen, Y. Choi, B. L. Collister, A. L. Cook, A. F. Corral, E. C. Crosbie, B. van Diedenhoven, J. P. DiGangi, G. S. Diskin, S. Dmitrovic, E.-L. Edwards, M. A. Fenn, R. A. Ferrare, D. van Gilst, J. W. Hair, D. B. Harper, M. R. A. Hilario, C. A. Hostetler, N. Jester, M. Jones, S. Kirschler, M. M. Kleb, J. M. Kusterer, S. Leavor, J. W. Lee, H. Liu, K. McCauley, R. H. Moore, J. Nied, A. Notari, J. B. Nowak, D. Painemal, K. E. Phillips, C. E. Robinson, A. J. Scarino, J. S. Schlosser, S. T. Seaman, C. Seethala, T. J. Shingler, M. A. Shook, K. A. Sinclair, W. L. Smith Jr., D. A. Spangenberg, S. A. Stamnes, K. L. Thornhill, C. Voigt, H. Vömel, A. P.Wasilewski, H.Wang, E. L. Winstead, K. Zeider, X. Zeng, B. Zhang, L. D. Ziemba, and P. Zuidema (2023): Spatially coordinated airborne data and complementary products for aerosol, gas, cloud, and meteorological studies: the NASA ACTIVATE dataset. Earth System Science Data 15 (8), 3419–3472. doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-3419-2023.

Wang, Z., L. Bugliaro, T. Jurkat-Witschas, R. Heller, U. Burkhardt, H. Ziereis, G. Dekoutsidis, M. Wirth, S. Groß, S. Kirschler, S. Kaufmann, and C. Voigt (2023): Observations of microphysical properties and radiative effects of a contrail cirrus outbreak over the North Atlantic. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 23 (3), 1941–1961. doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-1941-2023.

Dischl, R., S. Kaufmann, and C. Voigt (2022): Regional and Seasonal Dependence of the Potential Contrail Cover and the Potential Contrail Cirrus Cover over Europe. Aerospace 9 (9),  doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace9090485.

Kirschler, S., C. Voigt, B. Anderson, R. Campos Braga, G. Chen, A. F. Corral, E. Crosbie, H. Dadashazar, R. A. Ferrare, V. Hahn, J. Hendricks, S. Kaufmann, R. Moore, M. L. Pöhlker, C. Robinson, A. J. Scarino, D. Schollmayer, M. A. Shook, K. L. Thornhill, E. Winstead, L. D. Ziemba, and A. Sorooshian (2022): Seasonal updraft speeds change cloud droplet number concentrations in low-level clouds over the western North Atlantic. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 22 (12), 8299–8319. doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-8299-2022.

Li, X.-Y., H. Wang, J. Chen, S. Endo, G. George, B. Cairns, S. Chellappan, X. Zeng, S. Kirschler, C. Voigt, A. Sorooshian, E. Crosbie, G. Chen, R. A. Ferrare, W. I. Gustafson, J. W. Hair, M. M. Kleb, H. Liu, R. Moore, D. Painemal, C. Robinson, A. J. Scarino, M. Shook, T. J. Shingler, K. L. Thornhill, F. Tornow, H. Xiao, L. D. Ziemba, and P. Zuidema (2022): Large-Eddy Simulations of Marine Boundary Layer Clouds Associated with Cold-Air Outbreaks during the ACTIVATE Campaign. Part I: Case Setup and Sensitivities to Large-Scale Forcings. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences 79 (1), 73–100. doi: https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-21-0123.1.

Reifenberg, S. F., A. Martin, M. Kohl, S. Bacer, Z. Hamryszczak, I. Tadic, L. Röder, D. J. Crowley, H. Fischer, K. Kaiser, J. Schneider, R. Dörich, J. N. Crowley, L. Tomsche, A. Marsing, C. Voigt, A. Zahn, C. Pöhlker, B. A. Holanda, O. Krüger, U. Pöschl, M. Pöhlker, P. Jöckel, M. Dorf, U. Schumann, J. Williams, B. Bohn, J. Curtius, H. Harder, H. Schlager, J. Lelieveld, and A. Pozzer (2022): Numerical simulation of the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on tropospheric composition and aerosol radiative forcing in Europe. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 22 (16), 10901–10917. doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-10901-2022.

Tomsche, L., A. Marsing, T. Jurkat-Witschas, J. Lucke, S. Kaufmann, K. Kaiser, J. Schneider, M. Scheibe, H. Schlager, L. Röder, H. Fischer, F. Obersteiner, A. Zahn, M. Zöger, J. Lelieveld, and C. Voigt (2022): Enhanced sulfur in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere in spring 2020. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 22 (22), 15135–15151. doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-15135-2022.

Tornow, F., A. S. Ackerman, A. M. Fridlind, B. Cairns, E. C. Crosbie, S. Kirschler, R. H. Moore, D. Painemal, C. E. Robinson, C. Seethala, M. A. Shook, C. Voigt, E. L. Winstead, L. D. Ziemba, P. Zuidema, and A. Sorooshian (2022): Dilution of Boundary Layer Cloud Condensation Nucleus Concentrations by Free Tropospheric Entrainment During Marine Cold Air Outbreaks. Geophysical Research Letters 49 (11), e2022GL098444. doi: https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL098444.

Voigt, C., J. Lelieveld, H. Schlager, J. Schneider, J. Curtius, R. Meerkötter, D. Sauer, L. Bugliaro, B. Bohn, J. N. Crowley, T. Erbertseder, S. Groß, V. Hahn, Q. Li, M. Mertens, M. L. Pöhlker, A. Pozzer, U. Schumann, L. Tomsche, J. Williams, A. Zahn, M. Andreae, S. Borrmann, T. Bräuer, R. Dörich, A. Dörnbrack, A. Edtbauer, L. Ernle, H. Fischer, A. Giez, M. Granzin, V. Grewe, H. Harder, M. Heinritzi, B. A. Holanda, P. Jöckel, K. Kaiser, O. O. Krüger, J. Lucke, A. Marsing, A. Martin, S. Matthes, C. Pöhlker, U. Pöschl, S. Reifenberg, A. Ringsdorf, M. Scheibe, I. Tadic, M. Zauner-Wieczorek, R. Henke, and M. Rapp (2022): Cleaner Skies during the COVID-19 Lockdown. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 103 (8), E1796–E1827. doi: https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-21-0012.1.

Ziereis, H., P. Hoor, J.-U. Grooß, A. Zahn, G. Stratmann, P. Stock, M. Lichtenstern, J. Krause, V. Bense, A. Afchine, C. Rolf, W. Woiwode, M. Braun, J. Ungermann, A. Marsing, C. Voigt, A. Engel, B.-M. Sinnhuber, and H. Oelhaf (2022): Redistribution of total reactive nitrogen in the lowermost Arctic stratosphere during the coldwinter 2015/2016. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 22 (5), 3631–3654. doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-3631-2022.