Ice crystal habits from cloud chamber studies obtained by in-line holographic microscopy related to depolarization measurements.

We investigate hydrometeor habits at the AIDA chamber with a newly developed in-line holographic microscope HOLographic Imager for Microscopic Objects (HOLIMO). Sizes and habits of ice crystals and droplets in a mixed-phase cloud experiment are related to relative humidity with respect to ice (RH(ice)), temperature (T), and experiment time. This experiment is initiated with supercooled water drops.

Evaluation of a photoacoustic detector for water vapor measurements under simulated tropospheric/lower stratospheric conditions.

Although water vapor is one of the most important and certainly the most variable minor constituent of the atmosphere, accurate measurements of p(H20) with high time resolution are difficult, particularly in the cold upper troposphere/lower stratosphere. This work demonstrates that a diode laser-based photoacoustic (PA) water vapor detector is a viable alternative to current water vapor sensors for airborne measurements. The PA system was compared with a high-quality frost point hygrometer (FPH) and with a Lyman-alpha hygrometer in the pressure range of 1000-100 hPa at frost point temperatures between 202 and 216 K.