First Research on Cloud-Base Height over Zhongshan Station in East Antarctica Based on Ceilometer

Antarctic clouds and their vertical structures play a significant role in influencing the regional radiation budget and ice mass balance; however, substantial uncertainties persist. Continuous monitoring and research are essential for enhancing our understanding of these clouds. This study presents an analysis of cloud occurrence frequency and cloud-base heights (CBHs) at Zhongshan Station in East Antarctica for the first time, utilizing data from a C12 ceilometer covering the period from January 2022 to December 2023. The findings indicate that low clouds dominate at Zhongshan Station, with an average cloud occurrence frequency of 75%. Both the cloud occurrence frequency and CBH distribution exhibit distinct seasonal variations. Specifically, the cloud occurrence frequency during winter is higher than that observed in summer, while winter clouds can develop to greater heights. Over the Southern Ocean, the cloud occurrence frequency during summer surpasses that at Zhongshan Station, with clouds featuring lower CBHs and larger extinction coefficients. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that CBHs derived from the ceilometer are basically consistent with those obtained from radiosondes. Importantly, ERA5 demonstrates commendable performance in retrieving CBHs at Zhongshan Station when compared with ceilometer measurements.