Universität zu Köln

Ebell, Kerstin ORCID: 0000-0002-0042-4968, Buhren, Christian ORCID: 0000-0002-3782-2193, Gierens, Rosa ORCID: 0000-0002-3879-3099, Chellini, Giovanni ORCID: 0000-0002-7303-0468, Lauer, Melanie ORCID: 0000-0001-8168-1933, Walbröl, Andreas ORCID: 0000-0003-2603-2724, Dahlke, Sandro ORCID: 0000-0002-0395-9597, Krobot, Pavel and Mech, Mario ORCID: 0000-0001-6229-9616 (2025). Impact of weather systems on observed precipitation at Ny-Ålesund (Svalbard). Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 25 (13). pp. 7315-7342. Copernicus Publications. ISSN 1680-7324

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Abstract

Ground-based precipitation observations are sparse in the Arctic but are needed to better understand precipitation processes and to provide reference data sets for models and satellite products. This study presents new, temporally highly resolved precipitation measurements from a Pluvio precipitation gauge and a Parsivel disdrometer at the Arctic research station AWIPEV, part of the Ny-Ålesund Research Station, Svalbard. Using the information on the precipitation phase by Parsivel, we derived a temperature-dependent separation of precipitation into liquid and solid mass. The Pluvio precipitation amount and the Parsivel/temperature-based precipitation type were analyzed for the period August 2017–December 2021 and related to the presence of synoptic-scale weather systems, i.e., atmospheric rivers (ARs), cyclones and fronts, detected from ERA5 reanalysis data. ARs occurred only 8 % of the time at Ny-Ålesund but contributed to about 42 % of the total precipitation amount with a high liquid mass fraction (72 %). Cyclones occurred 20 % of the time and were associated with 39 % of the precipitation, mainly in solid form (62 %). Frontal systems play a minor role in the precipitation amount at Ny-Ålesund. Extreme events, i.e., days with daily precipitation sums above the 98th percentile, contribute 18 % to the total precipitation amount. All of these events are related to enhanced water vapor transport, often in the form of ARs and in combination with fronts and a high liquid mass fraction. Liquid precipitation in winter is mainly connected to ARs. These new measurements will help to better characterize uncertainties in gauge-based precipitation observations and the local variability of precipitation.

Item Type:	Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Ebell, Kerstin UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0042-4968 UNSPECIFIED Buhren, Christian UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3782-2193 UNSPECIFIED Gierens, Rosa UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3879-3099 UNSPECIFIED Chellini, Giovanni UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7303-0468 UNSPECIFIED Lauer, Melanie melanie.lauer@uni-koeln.de https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8168-1933 UNSPECIFIED Walbröl, Andreas UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2603-2724 UNSPECIFIED Dahlke, Sandro UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0395-9597 UNSPECIFIED Krobot, Pavel UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Mech, Mario UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6229-9616 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-798457
Identification Number:	10.5194/acp-25-7315-2025
Journal or Publication Title:	Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Volume:	25
Number:	13
Page Range:	pp. 7315-7342
Number of Pages:	28
Date:	14 July 2025
Publisher:	Copernicus Publications
ISSN:	1680-7324
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Divisions:	Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences > Department of Geosciences > Institute for Geophysics and Meteorology
Subjects:	Earth sciences
['eprint_fieldname_oa_funders' not defined]:	Publikationsfonds UzK
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/79845