SHINE

Spatial Heterogeneity in cloud condensation NuclEi

2 June 2025 - 30 August 2025

Lead Scientist: Gourihar Kulkarni

Observatory: AMF (ARM Mobile Facility 3)

Multiple land-atmosphere coupling processes influence the spatial distribution of boundary-layer energy, moisture, aerosol, or cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) properties. Accurately quantifying the spatial and temporal distributions of CCN concentrations is essential for investigating aerosol-cloud interactions and reducing uncertainties in aerosol radiative forcing estimates of Earth's climate system. In this project, we will deploy CCN and aerosol instruments at the S20 and S30 supplemental sites located around the central Bankhead National Forest (BNF) observatory. Our measurements aim to evaluate the impact of the spatial and temporal variability of CCN and aerosol properties. This spatiotemporal variability analysis will explicate the importance of regional and long-range transported airmass from upwind sources that influence the land-atmosphere interactions and shallow cumulus cloud populations in the BNF region.