Radar-Based Retrievals of Cloud Properties in the Arctic and New Results from SHEBA

Clouds play a crucial role in the radiative balance of the earth’s surface, particularly in the Arctic where they participate in various feedback mechanisms with the underlying surface that consists of a complex mixture of snow, sea-ice, and open water. Our current understanding of clouds, and especially their representation in climate models, is limited. Longer term observational studies of the macroand micro-physical properties of clouds, particularly in understudied regions like the Arctic, are necessary to more clearly elucidate many cloud-related factors: average bulk cloud properties, cloud formation and persistence mechanisms, and the interactions of clouds and radiation. A clearer picture of clouds is needed if we expect to accurately predict weather or model clouds in future climates.