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<p>Low-altitude clouds play a crucial role in regional weather dynamics and global climate feedbacks, yet ground-based observations in mountainous regions like the Western Himalayas remain limited. This study analyzes the physical and optical properties of low-altitude rain-bearing clouds over Palampur, India, using Raman lidar measurements from two case studies: June 1, 2023 and May 16, 2017. Key parameters, including backscatter coefficient, depolarization ratio, cloud optical depth (COD), geometrical thickness, cloud-to-subcloud ratio (CSR), and turbulence (refractive index parameter, C<sub>n</sub><sup>2</sup>), were derived to characterize cloud evolution under western disturbances and orographic influences. Results show cloud base heights ranging from 2145 to 5362&#xa0;m, with average thicknesses of 508&#xa0;m (Case Study 1) and 468&#xa0;m (Case study 2), and COD values up to 2.18, indicating predominantly optically thick mixed-phase clouds. Depolarization ratios (0.10–0.60) revealed transitions from water droplets to ice crystals, while positive COD-CSR correlations (<i>r</i> = 0.72 in Case Study 2) highlighted enhanced aerosol-cloud interactions. Turbulence increased during cloud growth, peaking before precipitation. These findings align with CALIPSO satellite literature, validating Raman lidar's high-resolution insights in complex terrain. This work addresses a data gap in Himalayan cloud climatology, contributing to improved regional weather forecasting and climate modeling.</p>

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Case studies on the Physical and Optical Properties of Clouds Observed Over a Western Himalayan Site

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月28日

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  • Vasundhara Sharma,
  • Shishir Kumar Singh,
  • Devesh Kumar Shukla,
  • Vijender Kumar Bambal,
  • Ashish Ranjan,
  • Radhakrishnan Soman Radha

摘要

Low-altitude clouds play a crucial role in regional weather dynamics and global climate feedbacks, yet ground-based observations in mountainous regions like the Western Himalayas remain limited. This study analyzes the physical and optical properties of low-altitude rain-bearing clouds over Palampur, India, using Raman lidar measurements from two case studies: June 1, 2023 and May 16, 2017. Key parameters, including backscatter coefficient, depolarization ratio, cloud optical depth (COD), geometrical thickness, cloud-to-subcloud ratio (CSR), and turbulence (refractive index parameter, Cn2), were derived to characterize cloud evolution under western disturbances and orographic influences. Results show cloud base heights ranging from 2145 to 5362 m, with average thicknesses of 508 m (Case Study 1) and 468 m (Case study 2), and COD values up to 2.18, indicating predominantly optically thick mixed-phase clouds. Depolarization ratios (0.10–0.60) revealed transitions from water droplets to ice crystals, while positive COD-CSR correlations (r = 0.72 in Case Study 2) highlighted enhanced aerosol-cloud interactions. Turbulence increased during cloud growth, peaking before precipitation. These findings align with CALIPSO satellite literature, validating Raman lidar's high-resolution insights in complex terrain. This work addresses a data gap in Himalayan cloud climatology, contributing to improved regional weather forecasting and climate modeling.