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Abstract:
The Arctic climate is changing at fast pace. The contribution of low-level clouds to Arctic amplification feedback processes remains challenging to quantify as model evaluation requires continuous, high-quality measurements in a demanding environment. Advancing the understanding of governing processes of mixed-phase clouds, ubiquitous in the Arctic, calls for temporally high-resolved measurements of cloud and precipitation microphysical properties as well simultaneous quantification of water vapor amount and profiles in all-weather conditions. Based on instrument simulations, we demonstrate the added value of the G-band Radar for Water vapor profiling and Arctic Clouds (GRaWAC) system for cloud and water vapor observations at an Arctic ground-based and air-borne observation supersite. Currently in final development stages, the GRaWAC system is a worldwide unique FMCW G-band radar with Doppler-resolving capabilities and simultaneous dual-frequency operation. When operated stand-alone as a Differential Absorption Radar, continuous water vapor profiles can be derived in cloudy and precipitating conditions. A planned deployment at AWIPEV station, Ny-Alesund, Spitsbergen, will embed G-band radar observations in operational Ka- and W-band radar measurements. We illustrate expected measurements of typically occurring conditions, and highlight the anticipated improved detection of liquid-to-ice phase transitions thanks to the G-band contribution in the multi-radar space. Due to its versatile nature, GRaWAC will be mounted aboard the Polar-5 aircraft in planned field operations around Svalbard. We will outline how GRaWAC’s measurements will support setting the local ground-based observations into a larger regional context of water vapor and cloud variability.
