Seasonal Variation of Cloud Layer Over Sumatra from Long-Term Ceilometer Observation
摘要
Cloud Base Height (CBH) is an important parameter that affects global radiation balance, atmospheric circulation, and climate regulation. This study investigates CBH observations at Kototabang, West Sumatra, Indonesia, from 2002 to 2021. The ceilometer at Kototabang is the only instrument for such observations in Indonesia, which fills a critical gap in regional cloud research. There are significant seasonal variations in cloud occurrence, with the dry season showing minimal cloud occurrence and the wet season correlating with the highest cloud occurrence. Single-layer clouds are the most dominant, accounting for about 41% of cloud occurrence, while two-layer and three-layer clouds represent smaller proportions. Seasonal changes in cloud base height were also observed, with more than 50% of clouds having heights below 1000 m, varying with the season. These findings improve our understanding of cloud behavior in a region with limited data.