MEASUREMENT OF CONDENSED WATER-CONTENT IN LIQUID AND ICE CLOUDS USINGAN AIRBORNE COUNTERFLOW VIRTUAL IMPACTOR

Condensed water content (CWC) measured using a counterflow virtual imp actor (CVI) with a Lyman-cu hygrometer downstream is compared with tha t measured by other airborne instruments (a hot-wire probe, a PMS FSSP , and a PMS 2D-C). Results indicate that the CVI system provides a rel iable measurement of CWC in both liquid- and ice-phase clouds and that the CVI measures CWC contained in both large and small hydrometeors; this means that the condensed water present in both phases and virtual ly all hydrometeor sizes can be measured with a single device. Small i ce contents of a few milligrams per cubic meter present in cirrus clou ds can also be measured by the technique.