Correlating in situ Aerosol Size Distribution Measurements with Cloud Coverage over the Sierra Nevada Mountains

8/11/2019 Correlating in situ Aerosol Size Distribution Measurements with Cloud Coverage over the Sierra Nevada Mountains

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T O RI H AMP T O NDEP ART MENT O F MET EO RO L O GYWE S T ER N K E NT U C K Y U N IV ER S IT Y

MENT O R: ST EV E SCH IL LP I: T IM BERT RAM

Correlating in situ aerosol size distribution

measurements with cloud coverage over theSierra Nevada Mountains


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Introduction

! Aerosols are directly and indirectly related to global climateby scattering radiation and assisting in the formation ofclouds

! Aerosols serve as Cloud Condensation Nuclei (CCN)


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Introduction continued

! Previous research has suggested that aerosols play a role inthe cloud properties over the Sierra Nevadas

! The aerosols are believed to be from large urban cities, butprimarily from the Central Valley region


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Flight path of Rosenfeld et al. study


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Concentration over Central Valley

16

12

8

4

0

x10

6


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Concentration over Sierra Nevadas

500

400

300

200

100

0

x10

3


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Concentration near base of mountains

250

200

150

100

50

0

x10

3


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Comparison of particle distributions


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Comparison continued


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Comparison continued


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Wind patterns on June 25, 2014

! Primarily northwesterly flow atlower levels

! Flow becomes more zonal with

height! Lower level winds sweep

southward through the CentralValley and around the southern

edge of the mountains, creatingan eddy

! This wind flow is typical for theCentral Valley


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Satellite Imagery

Water vapor + Particles = Cloud!

Clouds shown in white Water vapor shown in white


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Closing Thoughts

!

There is evidence that supports the idea of aerosolsfrom the Central Valley being transported to themountains

!

This verifies the assumptions and measurementsmade in the Rosenfeld et al. study

! The clouds over the mountains are not solely affectedby the Central Valley aerosols

!

Future studies may include analyzing aerosol andcloud optical depth at the mountains


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Acknowledgements

!

The entire Bertram group (Abby, Allie, Dillon,Harrison, Justin, Laith, and Taia)

! Steve Schill

!

Dr. Tim Bertram! Nick Heath

! Jessie Sagona

!

Emily Schaller


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Correlating in situ Aerosol Size Distribution Measurements with Cloud Coverage over the Sierra Nevada Mountains