Comprehensive mapping and characteristic regimes of aerosol effects on the formation and evolution of pyro-convective clouds
A recent parcel model study (Reutter et al., 2009) showed three deterministic regimes of initial cloud droplet formation, characterized by different ratios of aerosol concentrations (<i>N</i><sub>CN</sub>) to updraft velocities. This analysis, however, did not reveal how thes...
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doaj-5a3bb2c77ff64ce99cfe0507872d7ac42020-11-25T00:10:44ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242015-09-011518103251034810.5194/acp-15-10325-2015Comprehensive mapping and characteristic regimes of aerosol effects on the formation and evolution of pyro-convective cloudsD. Chang0Y. Cheng1P. Reutter2J. Trentmann3S. M. Burrows4P. Spichtinger5S. Nordmann6M. O. Andreae7U. Pöschl8H. Su9Multiphase Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, GermanyMultiphase Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, GermanyInstitute for Atmospheric Physics (IPA), Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, GermanyGerman Weather Service (DWD), Offenbach, GermanyPacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USAInstitute for Atmospheric Physics (IPA), Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, GermanyMultiphase Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, GermanyBiogeochemistry Department, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, GermanyMultiphase Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, GermanyMultiphase Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, GermanyA recent parcel model study (Reutter et al., 2009) showed three deterministic regimes of initial cloud droplet formation, characterized by different ratios of aerosol concentrations (<i>N</i><sub>CN</sub>) to updraft velocities. This analysis, however, did not reveal how these regimes evolve during the subsequent cloud development. To address this issue, we employed the Active Tracer High Resolution Atmospheric Model (ATHAM) with full microphysics and extended the model simulation from the cloud base to the entire column of a single pyro-convective mixed-phase cloud. A series of 2-D simulations (over 1000) were performed over a wide range of <i>N</i><sub>CN</sub> and dynamic conditions. The integrated concentration of hydrometeors over the full spatial and temporal scales was used to evaluate the aerosol and dynamic effects. The results show the following. (1) The three regimes for cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activation in the parcel model (namely aerosol-limited, updraft-limited, and transitional regimes) still exist within our simulations, but net production of raindrops and frozen particles occurs mostly within the updraft-limited regime. (2) Generally, elevated aerosols enhance the formation of cloud droplets and frozen particles. The response of raindrops and precipitation to aerosols is more complex and can be either positive or negative as a function of aerosol concentrations. The most negative effect was found for values of <i>N</i><sub>CN</sub> of ~ 1000 to 3000 cm<sup>−3</sup>. (3) The nonlinear properties of aerosol–cloud interactions challenge the conclusions drawn from limited case studies in terms of their representativeness, and ensemble studies over a wide range of aerosol concentrations and other influencing factors are strongly recommended for a more robust assessment of the aerosol effects.http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/15/10325/2015/acp-15-10325-2015.pdf |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
D. Chang Y. Cheng P. Reutter J. Trentmann S. M. Burrows P. Spichtinger S. Nordmann M. O. Andreae U. Pöschl H. Su |
spellingShingle |
D. Chang Y. Cheng P. Reutter J. Trentmann S. M. Burrows P. Spichtinger S. Nordmann M. O. Andreae U. Pöschl H. Su Comprehensive mapping and characteristic regimes of aerosol effects on the formation and evolution of pyro-convective clouds Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
author_facet |
D. Chang Y. Cheng P. Reutter J. Trentmann S. M. Burrows P. Spichtinger S. Nordmann M. O. Andreae U. Pöschl H. Su |
author_sort |
D. Chang |
title |
Comprehensive mapping and characteristic regimes of aerosol effects on the formation and evolution of pyro-convective clouds |
title_short |
Comprehensive mapping and characteristic regimes of aerosol effects on the formation and evolution of pyro-convective clouds |
title_full |
Comprehensive mapping and characteristic regimes of aerosol effects on the formation and evolution of pyro-convective clouds |
title_fullStr |
Comprehensive mapping and characteristic regimes of aerosol effects on the formation and evolution of pyro-convective clouds |
title_full_unstemmed |
Comprehensive mapping and characteristic regimes of aerosol effects on the formation and evolution of pyro-convective clouds |
title_sort |
comprehensive mapping and characteristic regimes of aerosol effects on the formation and evolution of pyro-convective clouds |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
series |
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
issn |
1680-7316 1680-7324 |
publishDate |
2015-09-01 |
description |
A recent parcel model study (Reutter et al., 2009) showed three
deterministic regimes of initial cloud droplet formation, characterized by
different ratios of aerosol concentrations (<i>N</i><sub>CN</sub>) to updraft velocities.
This analysis, however, did not reveal how these regimes evolve during the
subsequent cloud development. To address this issue, we employed the Active
Tracer High Resolution Atmospheric Model (ATHAM) with full microphysics and
extended the model simulation from the cloud base to the entire column of a
single pyro-convective mixed-phase cloud. A series of 2-D simulations (over
1000) were performed over a wide range of <i>N</i><sub>CN</sub> and dynamic conditions.
The integrated concentration of hydrometeors over the full spatial and
temporal scales was used to evaluate the aerosol and dynamic effects. The
results show the following. (1) The three regimes for cloud condensation nuclei (CCN)
activation in the parcel model (namely aerosol-limited, updraft-limited, and
transitional regimes) still exist within our simulations, but net production
of raindrops and frozen particles occurs mostly within the updraft-limited
regime. (2) Generally, elevated aerosols enhance the formation of cloud
droplets and frozen particles. The response of raindrops and precipitation
to aerosols is more complex and can be either positive or negative as a
function of aerosol concentrations. The most negative effect was found for
values of <i>N</i><sub>CN</sub> of ~ 1000 to 3000 cm<sup>−3</sup>. (3) The
nonlinear properties of aerosol–cloud interactions challenge the conclusions
drawn from limited case studies in terms of their representativeness, and
ensemble studies over a wide range of aerosol concentrations and other
influencing factors are strongly recommended for a more robust assessment of
the aerosol effects. |
url |
http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/15/10325/2015/acp-15-10325-2015.pdf |
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