Statistical characteristics of cloud liquid water path over the northwest Russia based on data from SEVIRI satellite instrument

The results of remote sensing of cloud liquid water path (LWP) by the SEVIRI satellite instrument in the Baltic Sea region and northwestern Russia in 2011–2017 are analyzed. For a detailed study, characteristic geographic points in the water areas of large water bodies and on land were selected. The main conclusions of the work were obtained for non-precipitating clouds with LWP not exceeding the threshold value of 0.4 kg m^‑2. Precipitating clouds were classified as having LWP of more than 0.4 kg m^‑2 and were considered separately. The statistical distributions of cloud liquid water path, as well as its interannual and seasonal variability, were analyzed. The analysis of the seasonal variation is limited to the period from February to October due to the lack of SEVIRI measurements in autumn/winter when the solar zenith angle is large. The seasonal variation is characterized by a minimum LWP in February and a maximum in October with practically constant values ​​from May to August. In the summer months, the range of average monthly values ​​of LWP over land is 0.075-0.080 kg m^‑2, while over water bodies the range is 0.060-0.065 kg m^‑2 with the error values ​​of average monthly values ​​less than 0.005 kg m^‑2. For the LWP of precipitating clouds, no seasonal variation is observed in the period from February to October, the values ​​over land and over water areas are practically the same and are in the range of 0.75-0.95 kg m^‑2.