Research Statement

Understanding the role of clouds and cloud processes in the earth's climate system. Evidence now firmly establishes that our species is altering the global climate through the combustion of fuels that warm the earth's atmosphere. The climate of the Earth is a highly complex and nonlinear system that does not necessarily respond in a simple or even predictable way. For instance, computer model simulations suggest that an increase in certain clouds in the upper troposphere could enhance global warming while an increase in certain cloud types in the lower troposphere could offset the warming. Currently, the leading climate models differ substantially in their predicted global warming and even more significantly, they differ widely in the predicted regional changes. Several leading scientific organizations including the World Meteorological Organization and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have identified the influences of clouds as the leading cause of this uncertainty. We are currently quite active in this research arena.

Presentations

  • Seasonal variability of boundary layer cloud and precipitation properties in the Southern Oceans as diagnosed from A-Train Data. Seminar presented at Texas A&M University, February 23, 2016. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 02/23/2016.
  • Radar Remote Sensing of Microphysical Processes? Feasibility Using In Situ Data from TC4. Prestented at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, 2015. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 12/16/2015.
  • Next Generation Remote Sensing Objectives: The challenge of inferring microphysical process from remote sensing. Presented at National Academy Workshop: Opportunities to Improve the Representation fo Clouds and Aerosols in Climate Models with National Collection Systems. June 2015. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 06/17/2015.
  • The Information Available in A-Train Data Regarding Precipitaiton Processes in Warm Maritime Cumulus. Invited Oral Presentation at the American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeeting, Decembert, 2014. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 12/11/2014.
  • Remote Sensing of Clouds From Space: Past, Present and Future. Invited seminar at the University of North Dakota, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, November, 2014. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 11/13/2014.
  • Assessment of Uncertainty in Cloud and Precipitation Property Retrievals: Black Art or Engineering? Invited Talk, ARM Science Team Meeting, March, 2013. Invited Talk/Keynote, Accepted, 03/2013.
  • Toward Hypothesis Testing with ARM Ground-Base Remote Sensing Data, Invited Oral Presentation at the American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting, San Francisco, December, 2012. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 12/2012.
  • Cloud Occurrence and Cloud Properties from the A-Train: An Initial Exploration of Measurement Synergy from Space, Invited Presenation at the American Geophysical Union Joint Assembly, May, 2008. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 05/2008.
  • Cloud Occurrence, Cloud Overlap, and Cloud Microphysics from the First Year of CloudSat and CALIPSO Data, Invited Presenation at the SORCE Science Team Meeting, February, 2008. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 02/2008.

Publications

  • Mace G. G. and Stephanie Avey, 2017: Seasonal variability of boundary layer cloud and precipitation properties in the Southern Oceans as diagnosed from A-Train Data. Journal of Geophysical Research Atmos., 122, 1015-1032, doi: 10.1002/2016JD025348. Published, 03/15/2017.
  • Mace, G. G., S. Avey, S. Cooper, M. Lebsock, S. Tanelli, and G. Dobrowalski, 2016: Retrieving co-occurring cloud and precipitation properties of warm marine boundary layer clouds with A-Train data. Journal of Geophysical Research, 121, doi:10.1002/2015JD023681. Published, 03/15/2017.
  • Mace, G. G., and A. C. Abernathy, 2016: Observations of aerosol invigoration of shallow cumulus downstream of Mount Kilauea, 43, 2981-2988, doi:10.1002/2016GL067830. Published, 03/15/2017.
  • Xu, Zhuocan and G. G. Mace, 2017: Ice particle mass-dimensional relationship retrieval and uncertainty evaluation using the optimal estimation methodology applied to the MACPEX data. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 56, 767-788, DOI: 10.1175/JAMC-D-16-0222.1. Published, 03/06/2017.
  • Posselt, D. J., J. Kessler, and G. G. Mace, 2017: Bayseian retrievals of vertically resolved cloud particle size distribution properties. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 56, 745-765, DOI: 10.1175/JAMC-D-16-0276.1. Published, 03/06/2017.
  • Mace G. G. and Sally Benson, 2017: Diagnosing cloud microphysical process information from remote sensing measurements: A feasibility study using aircraft data. Part I; Tropical anvils measured during TC4. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 633-649, DOI: 10.1175/JAMC-D-16-0083.1. Published, 02/17/2016.
  • Deng, M., G. G. Mace, Z. Wang, and E. Berry, 2015, CloudSat 2C-ICE product update with a new Ze parameterization in lidar-only region. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 120, 12,198-12,208, doi:10.1002/2015JD023600. Published, 12/14/2015.
  • Muhlbauer, A. E. Berry, J. M. Comstock, and G. Mace, 2014: Perturbed physics ensemble simulations of cirrus on the cloud system-resolving scale. Journal of Geophysical Research, 119, 4709-4735, doi: 10.1002/2013JD020709. Published, 10/17/2014.
  • Berry, E. and G. G. Mace, 2014: Cloud properties and radiative effects derived from A-Train satellite data in Southeast Asia. Journal of Geophysical Research, 119, 9492-9508. Published, 08/12/2014.
  • Posselt, D. and G. Mace, 2014; The influence of parameter uncertainty on snowfall retrievals using Markov Chain Monte Carlo solution methods. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 53, 2034-2057. Published, 07/18/2014.
  • Mace, G. G. and Zhang, 2014: The Cloudsat Radar-Lidar Geometrical Profile Algorithm (RL-GeoProf): Updates, Improvements, and Selected Results. Journal of Geophysical Research, DOI: 10.1002/2013JD021374. Published, 03/11/2014.
  • Hammonds, K. D., G. G. Mace, and S. Y. Matrosov, 2014: Approximating the backscatter cross section of ice phase hydrometeor size distributions via a simple scaling of the Clausius-Mossotti factor. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 53, 2761-2774. Published, 03/03/2014.
  • Protat, A. S. A. Young, S. A. McFarlane, T. L’Ecuyer, G. Mace, J. M. Comstock, C. N. Long, E. Berry, and J. Delanoe, 2014: Reconciling Ground-based and space-based estimates of the frequency of occurrence and radiative effect of clouds around Darwin, Australia, Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 53, 456-478. Published, 03/02/2014.
  • Marchand, R., G. G. Mace, A. G. Hallar, I. B. McCubbin, S. Matrosov, and M. D. Shupe, 2013: Enhanced radar backscattering due to oriented ice particles at 95 GHz during StormVEx. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 30, 2336-2350, DOI: 10.1175/JTECH-D-13-00005.1. Published, 10/01/2013.
  • Zhang, K., Liu, X., Wang, M., Comstock, J. M., Mitchell, D. L., Mishra, S., and G. G. Mace.: Evaluating and constraining ice cloud parameterizations in CAM5 using aircraft measurements from the SPARTICUS campaign, Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., 13, 1201-1246, doi:10.5194/acpd-13-1201-2013, 2013. Published, 03/01/2013.
  • Deng, M., G. G. Mace, Z. Wang, and R. P. Lawson, 2013: Evaluation of several A-Train ice cloud retrieval products with in situ measurements collected during the SPartICus campaign, 2012: Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 52, 1014-1028. Published, 01/2013.
  • Berry, E., and G. G. Mace, 2013: Cirrus cloud properties and the large-scale meteorology: Relationships derived from A-Train data. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 52, 1253-1276.. Published, 01/2013.
  • Matrosov, S, G. G. Mace, R. Marchand, M. D. Shupe, A G. Hallar and I. B. McCubbin, 2012: Observational evidence of ice hydrometeor habits and orientations influence on scanning polarimetric W-band radar measurements. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 29, 989-1008. Published, 10/2012.
  • Zhao, Y., G. Mace, J. Comstock, 2011: The occurrence of particles size distribution bimodality in middle latitude cirrus as inferred from ground-based remote sensing data. Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, 68, 1162-1179. Published, 10/2011.
  • Mace, G. G., S. Houser, S. Benson, S. Klein, Q. Min, 2011: Critical evaluation of the ISCCP simulator using ground-based remote sensing data. Journal of Climate, 24, 1598-1612. Published, 10/2011.
  • Deng, M., G. G. Mace, Z. Wang, and H. Okamoto, 2010: TC4 validation for cirrus cloud profiling retrieval using Cloudsat radar and Calipso Lidar. Journal of Geophysical Research, 115, D00J15, doi:10.1029/2009jd013104. Published, 11/2010.
  • Schwartz, M. C. and G. G. Mace ( 2010 ), Co‐occurrence statistics of tropical tropopause layer cirrus with lower cloud layers as derived from CloudSat and CALIPSO data , J. Geophys. Res. , 115 , D20215, doi:10.1029/2009JD012778. Published, 10/2010.
  • Mace G. G., 2010: Cloud properties and radiative forcing over the maritime storm tracks of the Southern Ocean and North Atlantic derived from A-Train. Journal of Geophysical Research, 115, doi:10.1029/2009JD012517. Published, 10/2010.
  • Deng, M., and G. G. Mace, 2008: Cirrus cloud microphysical properties and air motions statistics using cloud radar Doppler moments Part II – Climatology. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 47, 3221-3236. Published, 10/2008.
  • Deng, M. and G. G. Mace, 2008: Cirrus cloud microphysical properties and air motion statistics using cloud radar Doppler moments: Water content, particle size and sedimentation relationships. Geophys. Research Letters, 35, L17808, doi:10.1029/2008GL035054. Published, 04/2008.
  • Mace, G. G., and S. Benson, 2008: The vertical distribution of cloud radiative forcing at the SGP ARM Climate Research Facility as revealed by 8-years of continuous data. Journal of Climate, 21, 2591-2610. Published, 02/2008.
  • Mace, G. G., R. Marchand, Q.Zhang, and G. Stephens, 2007: Global hydrometeor occurrence as observed by Cloudsat; Initial observations from Summer 2006. VOL. 34, L09808, doi:10.1029/2006GL029017. Published, 10/2007.
  • Zhang, Y., and G. Mace, 2006: Retrieval of cirrus microphysical properties with a suite of algorithms for airborne and spaceborne lidar, radar and radiometer data. J. Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 45, 1665-1708. Published, 12/2006.
  • Deng, M. and G. Mace, 2006: Cirus microphysical properties and air motion statistics using cloud radar Doppler moments: Part I – Algorithm description. J. Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 45, 1690-1709. Published, 12/2006.
  • Mace, G. G., S. Benson, K. Sonntag, S. Kato, Q. Min, P. Minnis, C. Twohy, M. Poellot, X. Dong, C. Long, Q. Zhang, and D. Doelling, 2006: Cloud Radiative Forcing at the ARM Climate Research Facility: Part 1. Technique, Validation, and Comparison to Satellite-Derived Diagnostic Quantities. J. Geophys. Res., 111, D11S90, doi:10.1029/2005JD005921. Published, 11/2006.
  • Mace, G. G., S. Benson, and S. Kato, 2006: Cloud Radiative Forcing at the ARM Climate Research Facility: Part 2. The vertical redistribution of radiant energy by clouds. J. Geophys. Res., 111, D11S91, doi:10.1029/2005JD005922. Published, 10/2006.
  • Mace, G. G., M. Deng, B. Soden, and E. Zipser, 2006: On the association of tropical cirrus in the 10-15 km layer with deep convection source regions; an observational study combining millimeter radar data and satellite-derived trajectories. J. Atmos. Sci., 63, 480-504. Published, 09/2006.
  • Mace, G. G., S. Benson, E. Vernon, 2006: On the relationship between cirrus cloud occurrence and microphysical properties with the large-scale atmospheric state revealed by 6 years of continuous ground-based cloud radar data. J. Climate.,Vol. 19, No. 13, pages 3257-3278. Published, 08/2006.
  • Mace. G. G., Y. Zhang, S. Platnick, M. D. King, P. Minnis, P. Yang, 2005: Evaluation of cirrus cloud properties derived from MODIS radiances using cloud properties derived from ground-based data collected at the ARM SGP site, J. Applied Meteorol., 44, 221-240. Published, 08/2005.
  • Dong, X., G. G. Mace, 2003: Profiles of low-level stratus cloud microphysics deduced from ground-based measurements. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 20, 45-53. Published, 01/2003.
  • Mace. G. G., S. Benson-Troth, 2002: Cloud overlap characteristics derived from long-term cloud radar data, J. Climate, 15, 2505-2515. Published, 09/2002.
  • Mace G. G A. J. Heymsfield, M. R. Poellot, 2002: On retrieving the microphysical properties of cirrus using millimeter wave Doppler moments data, J. Geophys. Res. 107.. Published, 04/2002.