Clouds play an important role in the polar climate due to their interaction with radiation and their role in the hydrological cycle linking poleward water vapour transport with precipitation and affecting the mass balance of the polar ice sheets. Cloud-radiative feedbacks have also an important influence on sea ice. Cloud and precipitation properties depend strongly on the atmospheric dynamics and moisture sources and transport, as well as on aerosols, which can act as cloud condensation and ice nuclei.

This session aims at bringing together researchers using observational (in-situ, aircraft, ground-based and satellite-based remote sensing) and/or modeling approaches to improve our understanding of polar tropospheric clouds, precipitation and related mechanisms. Contributions are invited on various relevant processes including drivers of the cloud microphysics at high latitudes, sources of cloud nuclei both at local and long range, linkages of polar clouds/precip to the moisture sources and transports, relationship to the large-scale and mesoscale atmospheric dynamics (including teleconnections), as well as the effects that the clouds/precipitation in the polar regions have on the polar and global climate system, surface mass balance and sea ice. Papers including new methodologies specific to polar regions are encouraged, such as improving polar cloud/precip parameterizations in atmospheric models and specifics of measuring polar clouds and precipitation.

Young scientist/student presentations are especially encouraged and we will reserve several oral units for such papers in this session.

The session is endorsed by the SCAR Antarctic Clouds and Aerosols (ACA) Action Group.

Solicited speaker: Greg McFarquhar (University of Illinois, USA)