Study of Wind Motions During the Presence of High-altitude Cloud–Cirrus Using MST Radar and Lidar

Abstract

Varieties of clouds are seen at different altitudes in the Earth’s atmosphere. The role of clouds in climate is in its capability of modulating the Earth’s basic radiation balance and in producing precipitation. The global energy balance equation is affected on both sides by the clouds by reflecting incoming sunlight and hindering the heat radiation from the surface. Most of the clouds are formed in the lower atmosphere i.e. troposphere. Clouds in the troposphere are classified based on their altitude of formation as high, middle and low clouds. Low clouds (stratus, stratocumulus and nimbostratus) and middle clouds (altocumulus, altocumulus castellanus, altostratus and nimbostratus) mostly reflect the solar radiation and cool the Earth’s surface while the high clouds (cirrus, cirrostratus and cirrocumulus) transmit the short-wave radiation and cause heating of the atmosphere. So, the study of high-altitude clouds finds its importance rather than the low or middle-altitude clouds.