My Personal Journey of Aerosol-Cloud-Precipitation Interactions

September 06, 2013

Toshihisa Matsui

Hosted by Sonia Kleidenweis

Abstract

This seminar will provide a discussion in the aerosol-cloud-precipitation interactions through reviewing my past and current works using satellite observations and high-resolution modeling. Topics will cover from an aerosol-marine low clouds interaction to an aerosol-deep convection clouds interaction by comparing the observational and modeling studies, and also discuss the issues in these approaches. These issue and solutions has motivated me toward a recent topic: fusion of mesoscale modeling and satellite observations through multi-instrument satellite simulators. Examples provide the multi-sensor satellite-based evaluation of three different storm-resolving models: Goddard Cumulus Ensemble (GCE) model, NASA Multi-scale Modeling Framework (MMF), and Nonhydrostatic ICosahedral Atmospheric Model (NICAM). The noble evaluation frame, Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM) Triple-sensor Three-step Evaluation Framework (T3EF), reveal their performances in cloud-precipitation microphysics by contrasting land-ocean climatology as well as clean-dirty air environment. Finally, some future perspectives will be discussed.

Bio. Dr. Matsui focuses on weather and climate science linking to cloud-precipitation processes, aerosol-cloud interactions, and land-atmosphere interactions by development and application of mesoscale meteorological models, satellite remote sensing, and satellite simulators. His multi-sensor satellite simulator, the Goddard Satellite Data Simulator Unit, plays a critical role to bridge high-resolution atmospheric models and various satellite missions. Currently, he is a sub-leader of the mesoscale dynamic and modeling group, and deputy Co-PI of the NASA-Unified WRF project. He has been a head committee of the GSFC AeroCenter in 2011~2013. He has been organized AGU session since 2007.