Ice particles in the atmosphere contribute to the largest uncertainty in interpretations of the Earth’s changing energy budget since the large variability in number, size and shape of cirrus and mixed-phase cloud particles makes it difficult to understand and parameterize their microphysical and hence their radiative properties.

To advance our understanding of these clouds, this session aims to bring together two topics, namely
(1) 'Ice Nucleating Particles (INP)' and (2) 'Ice Clouds (IC)':

(1) 'Ice Nucleating Particles (INP)' are examined in the laboratory on a fundamental level, trying to understand the nucleation process. For characterizing INP in the atmosphere, often basically their temperature dependent number concentrations are determined, applying ground based and air-craft measurements, and also remote sensing. Contributions from all of these aspects are highly welcome, where one aspect is to help the exchange of knowledge between the different communities.

(2) Concerning 'Ice Clouds (IC)', the focus is to facilitate the exchange of knowledge in between the different approaches in this research field, that means we aim to gather contributions from all aspects: observations (ground based, airborne and space borne), simulations (process, regional and global) as well as radiative transfer and transport studies. Topics of interest are ice cloud formation, life cycle, coverage, microphysical and radiative properties, crystal shapes, sizes and variability of ice particles for mixed-phase as well as cirrus clouds.

Invited speaker:

ice nucleation particles: Jessica Creamean
ice clouds: Ulrike Lohmann