Cloudgen: A stochastic cloud generator
Cloudgen is a program for generating three-dimensional stochastic
clouds (specifically cirrus) with realistic horizontal and vertical
structure. Eleven sample config files are included, 2 "idealised"
cirrus cases (one with variable effective radius), 1 idealised
stratocumulus case, 4 cirrus cases derived from cloud radar
time-height sections and the same 4 cases but with the effects of
shear-induced horizontal mixing removed.
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Example from 27 December 1999
The following plot shows 2D ice water content derived from the
Chilbolton 94-GHz cloud radar on 27 December 1999.
The following plot shows a slice through a 3D cloud fields
created by Cloudgen when it is given statistics derived from the radar
data.
Some 3D visualisations of stochastic cirrus clouds:
References
Publications using the code above should reference the first of the
papers below, which describes the workings of the algorithm.
- Hogan, R. J., and S. F. Kew, 2005: A 3D stochastic cloud model for
investigating the radiative properties of inhomogeneous cirrus
clouds. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc., 131, 2585-2608: PDF
- Hogan, R. J., and S. F. Kew, 2004: A 3D stochastic cloud model for
investigating the radiative properties of inhomogeneous cirrus
clouds. Proc. 14th Int. Conf. on Clouds and Precipitation, Bologna,
Italy, 1669-1672: PDF (see the poster
as PPT)
- Kew, S. F., 2003: Development of a 3D fractal cirrus model and its
use in investigating the impact of cirrus inhomogeneity on
radiation. MSc Dissertation, Department of Mathematics, University of
Reading: PDF
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