Variability of the cloud base height over the territory of Western Siberia based on laser sounding data for the period 2010-2021
K.N. Pustovalov1,2,3, E.V. Kharyutkina1, E.I. Moraru1,2
1Institute of Monitoring of Climatic and Ecological Systems of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russia
2V.E. Zuev Institute of Atmospheric Optics of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Tomsk, Russia
3National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia
Keywords: cloud base height, lower cloudiness, cumulonimbus clouds, laser sounding data, Western Siberia
Abstract
Changes in the base height of the lower layer cloudiness and cumulonimbus clouds over the territory of Western Siberia are analyzed based on laser data for the period 2010-2021. We established that, in general, there is a decrease in the base height of lower clouds and its increase for cumulonimbus clouds. An increase in the base height of lower cloudiness occurs from north to south. More meridional distribution is obtained for cumulonimbus clouds. The seasonal course of the lower cloudiness and cumulonimbus clouds base height in the south of the territory has a maximum in summer. Two maxima are observed in the center and in the north: for lower cloudiness in summer and spring and for cumulonimbus clouds in winter and summer. The results of the cluster analysis show a significant difference in the base height for cumulonimbus clouds (in comparison with lower cloudiness) at different stations, which is presumably due to differences in earth’s surface characteristics and station height above sea level, as well as regional features of atmospheric circulation and convective processes.
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