Cloud properties climatology from CloudSat/CALIPSO synergy above the Hymex area: a tool for preparing flight plans

In this presentation we will show a cloud properties climatology using radar-lidar synergy from CloudSat/CALIPSO above the Hymex area. This work aims to aide preparation for the future Hymex airborne measurements campaign in Autumn 2012 and also to understand the role of stratiform clouds as "water reservoirs" for heavy precipitation. This climatology is derived using DARDAR products (http://www.icare.univ-lille1.fr/projects/dardar/) from the CloudSat/CALIPSO measurements, including cloud phase discrimination and ice cloud properties from 2006 to 2010 for autumn. Firstly, we will look at the vertical distribution of liquid and ice clouds. We will then identify the location of high values of IWC and effective radius where most of the condensate water accumulates before melting, causing strong rainfall over land. We will also target ten critical regions from Spain to Italy where rainfall causes severe floods.