Thermodynamic and cloud evolution in a cold-air outbreak during HALO-(AC)³: quasi-Lagrangian observations compared to the ERA5 and CARRA reanalyses

Abstract 3 campaign. Shortly after passing the sea-ice edge, maximum diabatic heating rates over 6 K h - 1 and moisture uptake over 0.3 g kg - 1 h - 1 were measured near the surface. Clouds started forming and vertical mixing within the deepening boundary layer intensified. The quasi-Lagrangian observations are compared with the fifth-generation global reanalysis (ERA5) and the Copernicus Arctic Regional Reanalysis (CARRA). Compared to these observations, the mean absolute errors of ERA5 versus CARRA data are 14 % higher for air temperature over sea ice (1.14 K versus 1.00 K) and 62 % higher for specific humidity over ice-free ocean (0.112 g kg - 1 versus 0.069 g kg - 1). We relate these differences to issues with the representation of the marginal ice zone and corresponding surface fluxes in ERA5, as well as the cloud scheme producing excess liquid-bearing, precipitating clouds, which causes a too-dry marine boundary layer. CARRA's high spatial resolution and demonstrated higher fidelity towards observations make it a promising candidate for further studies on Arctic air mass transformations.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Thermodynamic and cloud evolution in a cold-air outbreak during HALO-(AC)³: quasi-Lagrangian observations compared to the ERA5 and CARRA reanalyses ; volume:24 ; number:6 ; year:2024 ; pages:3883-3904 ; extent:22 ; Atmospheric chemistry and physics ; 24, Heft 6 (2024), 3883-3904 (gesamt 22)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Kirbus, Benjamin ; Schirmacher, Imke ; Klingebiel, Marcus ; Schäfer, Michael ; Ehrlich, André ; Slättberg, Nils ; Lucke, Johannes ; Moser, Manuel ; Müller, Hanno ; Wendisch, Manfred

Further information

• DOI: 10.5194/acp-24-3883-2024
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2024040404203386650839
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 10:59 AM CEST