Atmospheric ice clouds represent one of the largest uncertainties in climate change predictions. Current investigations include the formation mechanisms, micro-physics and radiative transfer in cirrus and mixed-phase clouds. For this session we invite papers related to atmospheric ice clouds and water vapour based on observational (satellite, aircraft and ground-based) data, laboratory, modelling, and theoretical studies. Topics of interest include studies on the life cycle, microphysical and radiative properties, coverage and variability of ice in all regions of the atmosphere. Specifically, we encourage studies focused on ice nucleation and supersaturation inside and outside of clouds, homogeneous and heterogeneous freezing (including various ice nuclei such as biological IN, processed or unprocessed mineral dust, volcanic ashes, soot, organic material, glassy substances, etc.), studies assigned to the impact on ice clouds from dynamical and thermodynamic variability and air pollution as well as investigations of the radiative properties of ice clouds. Further, studies on contrails, ice multiplication in mixed phase clouds, artificial ice crystal shattering, instrument intercomparisons, and recent developments in instrumentation and methods are invited to contribute to the session.

solicited speaker: Dr. Klaus Gierens and Dr. Alexei Korolev