Cloud microphysics and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) measurements from two marine stratus cloud projects are presented and analyzed. Results show that the increase of cloud droplet concentrations Nc with CCN concentrations NCCN rolls off for NCCN at 1% supersaturation (S)N1% above 400 cm−3. Moreover, at such high concentrations Nc was not so well correlated with NCCN but tended to be more closely related to vertical velocity W or variations of W (σw). This changeover from predominate Nc dependence on NCCN to Nc dependence on W or σw is due to the higher slope k of CCN spectra at lower S, which is made more relevant by the lower cloud S that is forced by higher NCCN. Higher k makes greater influence of W or σw variations than NCCN variations on Nc. This changeover at high NCCN thus seems to limit the indirect aerosol effect (IAE). On the other hand, in clean-air stratus cloud S often exceeded 1% and decreased to slightly less than 0.1% in polluted conditions. This means that smaller CCN [those with higher critical S (Sc)], which are generally more numerous than larger CCN (lower Sc), are capable of producing stratus cloud droplets, especially when they are advected into clean marine air masses where they can induce IAE. Positive correlations between turbulence σw and NCCN are attributed to greater differential latent heat exchange of smaller more numerous cloud droplets that evaporate more readily. Such apparent CCN influences on cloud dynamics tend to support trends that oppose conventional IAE, that is, less rather than greater cloudiness in polluted environments.

High‐resolution cloud condensation nucleus (CCN) spectral measurements in two aircraft field projects, Marine Stratus/Stratocumulus Experiment (MASE) and Ice in Clouds Experiment‐Tropical (ICE‐T), often showed bimodality that had previously been observed in submicrometer aerosol size distributions obtained by differential mobility analyzers. However, a great deal of spectral shape variability from very bimodal to very monomodal was observed in close proximity. Cloud supersaturation (S) estimates based on critical S, S_c, at minimal CCN concentrations between two modes (Hoppel minima) were ascertained for 63% of 325 measured spectra. These cloud S were lower than effective S (S_eff) determined by comparing ambient CCN spectra with nearby cloud droplet concentrations (N_c). Averages for the polluted MASE stratus were 0.15 and 0.23% and for the cumulus clouds of ICE‐T 0.44 and 1.03%. This cloud S disagreement between the two methods might in part be due to the fact that Hoppel minima include the effects of cloud processing, which push CCN spectra toward lower S. Furthermore, there is less cloud processing by the smaller cloud droplets, which might be related to smaller droplets evaporating more readily. Significantly lower concentrations within the more bimodal spectra compared with the monomodal spectra indicated active physical processes: Brownian capture of interstitial CCN and droplet coalescence. Chemical cloud processing also contributed to bimodality, especially in MASE.

Vertical sounding measurements within stratocumuli during two aircraft field campaigns, Marine Stratus/stratocumulus Experiment (MASE) and Physics of Stratocumulus Top (POST), are used to validate Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) cloud optical thickness (COT), cloud liquid water path (LWP), and cloud effective radius (r_e). In situ COT, LWP, and r_e were calculated using 5 m vertically averaged droplet probe measurements of complete vertical cloud penetrations. MODIS COT, LWP, and r_e 1 km pixels were averaged along these penetrations. COT comparisons in POST showed strong correlations and a near 1:1 relationship. In MASE, comparisons showed strong correlations; however, MODIS COT exceeded in situ COT, likely due to larger temporal differences between MODIS and in situ measurements. LWP comparisons between two cloud probes show good agreement for POST but not MASE, giving confidence to POST data. Both projects provided strong LWP correlations but MODIS exceeded in situ by 14–36%. MODIS in situ r_e correlations were strong, but MODIS 2.1 µm r_e exceeded in situ r_e, which contributed to LWP bias; in POST, MODIS r_e was 20–30% greater than in situ r_e. Maximum in situ r_e near cloud top showed comparisons nearer 1:1. Other MODIS r_e bands (3.7 µm and 1.6 µm) showed similar comparisons. Temporal differences between MODIS and in situ measurements, airplane speed differences, and cloud probe artifacts were likely causes of weaker MASE correlations. POST COT comparison was best for temporal differences under 20 min. POST data validate MODIS COT but it also implies a positive MODIS r_e bias that propagates to LWP while still capturing variability.