Low-level mixed-phase clouds at the high Arctic site of Ny-Ålesund: A comprehensive long-term dataset of remote sensing observations

This dataset contains a comprehensive set of quality-controlled remote sensing observations of low-level mixed-phase clouds collected at the high Arctic site of Ny-Ålesund, between 10 October 2021 and 31 December 2022. Cornerstones of the dataset are observations from a 35-GHz polarimetric scanning Doppler cloud radar and a 94-GHz zenith-pointing Doppler cloud radar. Radar data are complemented with thermodynamic retrievals from a microwave radiometer, liquid base height from a ceilometer and wind fields from large-eddy simulations. All data have undergone extensive quality control, especially the cloud radar data, which are accurately calibrated, matched, and corrected for gas and liquid-hydrometeor attenuation, ground clutter and range folding. This dataset is especially suited for cloud microphysical studies, and the high number of events included allows for the compiling of robust statistics. The dataset is accompanied by a data descriptor article, which is available at doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-5427-2023.

Dataset overviewThe files include only low-level mixed-phase cloud (LLMPC) events, as well as the 2 hours preceding and following events. Each file contains an individual event, unless multiple events are less than 4 hours apart, in which case they are combined into the same file. LLMPC events are detected by requiring that ice and liquid phase coexist in a cloud layer with top below 2500 m for at least one hour. All radar variables observed in zenith (Doppler moments at 35 and 94 GHz, linear depolarization ratio (LDR) at 35 GHz), as well as microwave radiometer retrievals (temperature (T), liquid water path (LWP), integrated water vapor (IWV)), liquid base height from the ceilometer, and model data (horizontal wind speed and direction) are brought to the same time and range grids (respectively named ‘time_zen’ and ‘range_zen’ in the files). Off-zenith radar variables (reflectivity, differential reflectivity (ZDR), maximum spectral ZDR (sZDRmax), correlation coefficient (RhoHV), differential phase shift (PhiDP), and specific differential phase (KDP)) are stored on separate coordinates (named ‘time_slant’ and ‘range_slant’). All derived corrections are already applied to the data, and stored in the files, in case the user is interested in reconstructing the original data. A number of flags have been included in the files: in particular ‘MPC_detected’ indicates whether a LLMPC event was detected, and ‘liquid_attenuation_correction_flag_zen’ and ‘liquid_attenuation_correction_flag_slant’ indicate whether radar reflectivities were corrected for attenuation due to liquid hydrometeors. Liquid attenuation corrections should be especially taken into account when computing the dual-wavelength ratio (i.e., the difference between reflectivity at 35 GHz and at 94 GHz, both expressed in dBZ), and performing quantitative analyses of reflectivity fields.