资源环境科技发展态势分析平台

For the first time, we characterize the vertical distribution of cloud microphysical properties in polar lows (PLs). We base our investigation on colocations found between A‐Train satellites overpasses and 82 PL occurrences evidenced from AVHRR observations in the Nordic Seas. We use the raDAR/liDAR DARDAR satellite cloud products to retrieve the thermodynamic phase and ice microphysical properties of clouds (ice water content, IWC, and ice crystal effective radius, r_eff). Two thirds of the investigated PLs show cloud tops higher than commonly documented (5 km), and up to 9 km. PLs are largely dominated by the ice phase, with more supercooled liquid occurrences in the eye. We also show that spiraliform clouds have larger average IWC in the few kilometers below cloud top, by up to a factor of two, compared to comma shaped PLs.