Source Levels of In‐Cloud Air in Shallow Cumulus: Consistency Between Paluch Diagram and Lagrangian Particle Tracking

Abstract

AbstractThe Paluch diagram is a widely used tool for interpreting aircraft measurements of shallow cumulus clouds. A prior study conducted by Heus et al. (2008, https://doi.org/10.1175/2008jas2572.1) concluded that the source levels of in‐cloud air inferred from the Paluch diagram exhibit biases, sometimes of several hundred meters, in comparison to those derived from Lagrangian particle tracking. In this short study we revisit this comparison. The results indicate that the upper source levels of in‐cloud air determined from the Lagrangian Particle Tracking and the Paluch diagram are consistent, and the choice of statistical methods is crucial. The significance of this research lies in confirming the reliability of the Paluch analysis, enabling its confident application to aircraft data.