Correlation Between Surface and Cloud Base CCN Spectra in Montana

Abstract

As part of the Cooperative Convective Precipitation Experiment (CCOPE) Aerosol Measurement Program, airborne grab samples and simultaneous nearby continuous surface measurements of CCN spectra were compared. A strong correlation was found between these measurements for samples gathered up to the altitude of cloud base. This implies that the surface CCN measurements made in CCOPE represent the input CCN spectra to the clouds. These results considerably enhance the potential usefulness of surface CCN measurements and therefore CCN measurements in general.