Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics
Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics
NPG
Articles | Volume 31, issue 4
Articles | Volume 31, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/npg-31-497-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/npg-31-497-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Articles | Volume 31, issue 4
Research article
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 | 
21 Oct 2024
Research article | Highlight paper |  | 21 Oct 2024

A global analysis of the fractal properties of clouds revealing anisotropy of turbulence across scales

Karlie N. Rees, Timothy J. Garrett, Thomas D. DeWitt, Corey Bois, Steven K. Krueger, and Jérôme C. Riedi

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Latest update: 16 May 2026
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Editorial statement
This is an interesting contribution to the long-running debate on the anisotropic scaling of atmospheric dynamics, confirming that it is neither 3D nor 2D, but rather 23/9 D. This is of interest to the whole atmospheric community.
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Short summary
The shapes of clouds viewed from space reflect vertical and horizontal motions in the atmosphere. We theorize that, globally, cloud perimeter complexity is related to the dimension of turbulence also governed by horizontal and vertical motions. We find agreement between theory and observations from various satellites and a numerical model and, remarkably, that the theory applies globally using only basic planetary physical parameters from the smallest scales of turbulence to the planetary scale.
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