Cloud Type Classification Product Available for EPCAPE and CAPE-k

Published: 26 February 2025

Time-height displays show reflectivity, cloud types, and precipitation on February 1, 2024, during EPCAPE. The y-axes of the top and middle plots are marked from 0 to 20,000 meters in increments of 2,500 meters. Reflectivity ranges from -60 to 20 dBz in the top plot. The middle plot calls out cirrus, cirrostratus, altostratus, altocumulus, deep convection, congestus, and low clouds. Most of the clouds were deep convection and congestus. Some precipitation was recorded between 15 and 20 UTC. — Time-height displays show reflectivity (top), cloud types (middle), and precipitation (bottom) on February 1, 2024, during the EPCAPE campaign in La Jolla, California. Image is provided by Krista Gaustad, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

The Cloud Type Classification value-added product (CLDTYPE VAP) is now available for the 2023–2024 Eastern Pacific Cloud Aerosol Precipitation Experiment (EPCAPE) in La Jolla, California. In addition, CLDTYPE processing has begun for the 2024–2025 Cloud And Precipitation Experiment at kennaook (CAPE-k) in northwestern Tasmania.

CLDTYPE provides an automated cloud type classification based on macrophysical quantities derived from vertically pointing lidar and radar at Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) User Facility sites. Up to 10 cloud layers are classified into seven cloud types based on predetermined and site-specific thresholds of cloud top height, cloud base height, and thickness.

More information about CLDTYPE can be found on the VAP web page.

EPCAPE data are available from March 1, 2023, through February 14, 2024. CAPE-k data are currently available from April 15 through September 29, 2024. Additional data from CAPE-k will be available in monthly batches depending on the availability of input data.

Scientists can access the CLDTYPE data in the ARM Data Center. (To download the data, first create an ARM account.)

For questions about the VAP, please contact ARM translator Damao Zhang or developer Krista Gaustad.

To cite the CLDTYPE data, please use doi:10.5439/1349884.

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ARM is a DOE Office of Science user facility operated by nine DOE national laboratories.