Marine boundary layer clouds cover a substantial portion of the global oceans and play an important role in determining the Earth's radiation budget. Their morphology, controlled by various dynamical factors and modulated by aerosols, is complex. It can range from single-layer stratiform in the high latitudes, mixtures of stratiform and cumuliform in the mid-latitudes, and mainly cumuliform in the tropics. Despite the distinct three-dimensional (3D) and heterogeneous nature of clouds, their interactions with radiation are often simplified to one-dimensional (1D) not only in models at all scales but also in satellite remote sensing applications. While it is a concern that the 1D simplification unavoidably introduces errors in cloud retrievals, missing critical information on 3D cloud properties has more profound impacts because it prevents us from offering much stronger observational constraints for understanding cloud-aerosol processes and improving model physics.   

To address this issue, I will show recent advances in remote sensing of 3D clouds and near-cloud aerosols. Specifically, our new retrieval framework accounts for cloud heterogeneity, incorporates 3D radiative effects directly, and uses synergistic satellite observations. It also capitalizes on a particle flow filter approach for the first time, which solves the fully non-linear retrieval problem and provides realistic error estimates. Applications and implications of these retrievals for an improved understanding of clouds and aerosols also will be discussed.

Dr. Christine Chiu is a Professor at the Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University. Prior to joining CSU, she was an Associate Professor at the Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, United Kingdom, a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and an Associate Scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

 

Dr. Chiu has extensive experience in remote sensing and radiative transfer. She has been working on retrievals for cloud, precipitation, and aerosols; aerosol-cloud-precipitation interactions; and machine learning applications in cloud processes and radiative transfer. Dr. Chiu is currently serving as the Chair of the Cloud and Precipitation Measurements and Science Group for the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facility, and as a member of the International Radiation Commission and the Hyperspectral Imaging and Sounding of the Environment Program Committee. In the past, she has served as the Chair of the AMS Atmospheric Radiation Committee.

The documentary is hosted by NASA Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche, NASA's first Black Center Director. NASA astronauts featured in the documentary include Guy Bluford, Charlie Bolden, Robert Curbeam, Alvin Drew, Ed Dwight, Jeanette Epps, Victor Glover, Bernard Harris, Joan Higginbotham, Leland Melvin, Bobby Satcher, and Stephanie Wilson.

Tickets are free and will be confirmed on a first-come first-serve basis. *Registration is required to attend. Each person can register up to a total of four (4) guests. Sign up early to save your spot! 

Myungje Choi (with Belay Demoz; 613/UMBC), for Outstanding Science Support: "For his sustained high-quality work on the calibration of high-resolution commercial sensors."

Daniel Miller (below; 613/UMBC), for Scientific Leadership: "For his exceptional contributions towards understanding liquid cloud microphysical retrievals using LES model output and 3D vector radiative transfer."