Distribution of Cloud Types over the Indian Summer Monsoon Region

The major gap areas in the realms of cloud studies are the vertical distribution of various cloud types, multi-layered clouds and the associated dynamics. In this regard, the present work focuses on understanding the three-dimensional distribution of various cloud types and the role background dynamics in their distribution over the ISM region. The vertically resolved multi-layered cloud distributions as well as vertical structure of latent heating are also addressed in the present thesis. Using CloudSat observations, role of dynamics in three dimensional distributions of various cloud types over the ISM region is investigated for the first time. Further, the formation mechanism in terms of background dynamics for various cloud types is also examined. Using the CloudSat observations over several tropical cyclones formed in the North Indian Ocean surrounding Indian subcontinent, a composite distribution of cloud types is constructed for the first time. This study revealed what type of clouds present in which part of tropical cyclone. As clouds in tropical cyclones are interconnected with cyclones dynamics and play a very important role in its sustenance and intensification.