On the daily cycle of mesoscale cloud organization in the winter trades

How spatial organization of clouds at the mesoscale contributes to daily cycle shallow cumulus and precipitation is here explored, for first time, using three years high-frequency satellite- ground-based observations. We focus on four prominent patterns cloud – Sugar, Gravel, Flowers Fish which were found recently characterize well variability North Atlantic winter trades. Our analysis based a simple framework disentangle parts trade-wind cloudiness that are due changes in (a) occurrence frequency patterns, (b) cover given pattern. investigation reveals contribution largely mediated by pattern occurrence. All forms exhibit pronounced their occurrence, with distinct 24-hr phasing. The Sugar can be viewed as daytime peak around noon towards sunset Sugar. Gravel appear instead night-time midnight before sunrise Flowers. pattern, however, always maximizes (between 0000 0300 hr), regardless specific Analyses role large-scale environmental conditions shows near-surface wind speed explain large part diurnal cloudiness.