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. (Document is available for download from the Maths department).
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