Ice cloud
Atmospheric phenomenon
An ice cloud is a colloid of ice particles dispersed in air. Cirrus and noctilucent clouds on Earth contain ice particles. On Earth, ice clouds are distributed globally, covering around 50% of the planet's surface. The term has been used to refer to clouds of both water ice and carbon dioxide ice on Mars. Such clouds can be sufficiently large and dense to cast shadows on the Martian surface.
Around the tropics at altitudes of 5 to 15 kilometers, the most frequently observed ice clouds are optically thin. Thicker ice clouds occur frequently in tropical convective areas and along storm tracks at midlatitudes.
01Effects
Ice clouds play a crucial role in a variety of processes such as the heat balance of Earth and global water cycle.
Heat regulation
Ice clouds play a crucial role in Earth's radiation balance. They can cool the atmosphere by reflecting solar radiation back to space and warm it up by blocking outgoing thermal radiation. Their effects on the climate vary significantly depending on their location; they cause heating when in the upper troposphere of the tropics, and cause strong cooling in lower altitudes.
Water cycle
They also play a crucial role in the global water cycle, being involved in processes such as latent heat release, precipitation and radiative forcing.
02Study
Despite their crucial importance to the energy balance of Earth, ice clouds remain poorly studied. This is partly due to the complexities and variety of factors that influence them, such as temperature, humidity, and vertical wind. Several models have been made to accurately calculate the properties of ice clouds. Some nanosatellites, such as IceCube, study the global atmospheric ice content and its effects on Earth's climate. Other satellites, such as CloudSat and the CALIPSO, are used to study ice clouds.
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Ice cloud”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- Iridescent clouds over Gale Crater (enhanced color) (54302292059).jpg by semeion.photo, Public domain
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