1. On the instantaneous linkages between cloud vertical structure and large-scale climate Ying Li Colorado State University

2. Merged CALIPSO/CloudSat data (2B-GEOPROF-LIDAR product; June 2006–April 2011) cloud incidence is derived from cloud fraction e.g., 25% indicates a cloud is observed 25% of the time within the sample volume Meteorological fields obtained from 1) Collocated CloudSat ECMWF-AUX auxiliary data product – instantaneous relationships ( ∼ 10 8 profile measurements) 2) ERA-Interim reanalysis – in some selected cases – month-to-month variability ( ∼ 10 5 monthly-mean profile measurements) Data:

3. A range of large-scale meteorological parameter 1. sea surface temperature (SST) 2. lower tropospheric stability (LTS; θ 3km − θ surface ) 3. mid-tropospheric vertical motion ( −ω 500 ) 4. storm track activity ： RMS ( ω ’ 500 ) 5. tropopause temperature (TT) 6. upper tropospheric stability (UTS; θ tropopause − θ tropopause − 3km )

4. From Li and Thompson (JGR, 2013) The role of stratospheric wave driving in linking the TT and UTS, and space/time distribution of upper tropospheric cloud incidence Cold tropopause Weak static stability Lift of tropopause Increased cloud incidence

5. A range of large-scale meteorological parameter 1. sea surface temperature (SST) 2. lower tropospheric stability (LTS; θ 3km − θ surface ) 3. mid-tropospheric vertical motion ( −ω 500 ) 4. RMS ( ω ’ 500 ) and dT/dy in the storm track region 5. tropopause temperature (TT) 6. upper tropospheric stability (UTS; θ tropopause − θ tropopause − 3km )

6. Peak at 303 K Minimum 295-300 K Maximum below 285 K Increase with decreasing SST e.g., Klein and Hartmann 1993; Wood and Bretherton, 2006 Shallow maximum 272 – 278 K Mid/high lat. regime Vertical structure of cloud incidence as a function of SST over the Global Ocean

7. SST between 272 – 286K

8. A range of large-scale meteorological parameter 1. sea surface temperature (SST) 2. lower tropospheric stability (LTS; θ 3km − θ surface ) 3. mid-tropospheric vertical motion ( −ω 500 ) 4. RMS ( ω ’ 500 ) and dT/dy in the storm track region 5. tropopause temperature (TT) 6. upper tropospheric stability (UTS; θ tropopause − θ tropopause − 3km )

9. Influences of lower tropospheric stability Maximum at high LTS e.g., stratocumulus clouds Maximum at low LTS e.g., stratus associated with extratropical synoptic storms) Dual maxima: different types of clouds throughout the mid/high latitude Height (km)

10. A range of large-scale meteorological parameter 1. sea surface temperature (SST) 2. lower tropospheric stability (LTS; θ 3km − θ surface ) 3. mid-tropospheric vertical motion ( −ω 500 ) 4. RMS ( ω ’ 500 ) and dT/dy in the storm track region 5. tropopause temperature (TT) 6. upper tropospheric stability (UTS; θ tropopause − θ tropopause − 3km )

11. Influences of mid-tropospheric vertical motion Increases as w 1% per 10 hPa d -1 High-top clouds tends to occur in regions of rising motion/low pressure Low-top clouds tends to occur in regions of sinking motion/high pressure Bimodal vertical distribution is due to: Passage of the cloud frontal system (low-level clouds behind the cold frons are associated with upper-level clouds ahead of the cold front) Superpostion of alternating cyclonic and anticyclonic weather systems Height (km)

12. Vertical structure of the linkages between anomalous cloud incidence and vertical motion over the extratropical ocean (30-90S/N) Regions of anomalously upward motion are associated with anomalous high cloud incidence ~3% per 10 hPa d -1 Height (km)

13. A range of large-scale meteorological parameter 1. sea surface temperature (SST) 2. lower tropospheric stability (LTS; θ 3km − θ surface ) 3. mid-tropospheric vertical motion ( −ω 500 ) 4. RMS ( ω ’ 500 ) and dT/dy in the storm track region 5. tropopause temperature (TT) 6. upper tropospheric stability (UTS; θ tropopause − θ tropopause − 3km )

14. Cloud incidence in the combined four storm track regions Peak at jet stream level & Increases with increasing storm track amplitude e.g., nimbostratus, deep convective clouds Low level clouds decease with increasing storm track amplitude

15. A range of large-scale meteorological parameter 1. sea surface temperature (SST) 2. lower tropospheric stability (LTS; θ 3km − θ surface ) 3. mid-tropospheric vertical motion ( −ω 500 ) 4. RMS ( ω ’ 500 ) and dT/dy in the storm track region 5. tropopause temperature (TT) 6. upper tropospheric stability (UTS; θ tropopause − θ tropopause − 3km )

16. Increases as TT decreases (1.5-2% K -1 ) Increases as UTS decreases ~8% per K km -1 ) Influences of tropopause temperature (TT) and upper tropospheric stability (UTS)

17. Vertical structure of the linkages between anomalous cloud incidence and static stability over the extratropical ocean (30-90S/N) Regions of anomalously low static stability are associated with anomalous high cloud incidence ~2% per K km -1

18. Summary The results in study provide a baseline for evaluating physical parameterizations of clods in GCM serve as a reference for interpreting the signature of large-scale atmospheric phenomena in cloud vertical structure Li, et al (GRL, 2014)