Modeling studies and field campaigns have greatly enhanced our understanding of these two climatically important cloud regimes. FIRE GCM research has added to our understanding of the importance of these cloud regimes in the climate system. FIRE-III has two primary components. FIRE will conduct an Arctic Cloud Experiment field campaign over the Beaufort Sea ice off the north coast of Alaska in spring 1998 to assess the role of arctic clouds in the high latitude climate system. FIRE may possibly conduct measurements of large-scale cirrus anvils associated with deep convection in the tropics in the year 2000.
Clouds play important roles in the Earth's climate and postulated global warming.
In fact, the inability to properly model clouds and their effects on climate is the largest source of uncertainty in general circulation model predictions of global warming. An Upper Tropospheric Cloud Component which consists of continuing investigations of middle latitude cirrus cloud systems with a methodical transition of emphasis to tropical upper-tropospheric cloud systems. Apply FIRE Phase I and II field campaign and theoretical results to develop and verify improved techniques for the inference of cloud radiative and microphysical properties from satellite and surface based data. Define, design, test and implement measurement systems to observe key microphysical and radiative properties of cirrus and boundary layer clouds and cloud systems. Advance our understanding of climatically important cloud systems, the variability of their microphysical and radiative properties, the key processes involved in their formation and dissipation, and their roles in regulating the flow of energy between the surface and the atmosphere.