Based on the stochastic collision-coalescence equation for cloud droplets and the definition of the autoconversion rate from cloud droplets to raindrops(ARCR),this study analyzes and derives an ARCR equation from the ...Based on the stochastic collision-coalescence equation for cloud droplets and the definition of the autoconversion rate from cloud droplets to raindrops(ARCR),this study analyzes and derives an ARCR equation from the collision-coalescence process.This equation narrows the integration range of the stochastic collision-coalescence equation,providing a theoretical basis for accurately and efficiently calculating the ARCR.Utilizing the results of the turbulent collision kernel and turbulent collision efficiency,as well as the ARCR equation,an accurate and efficient model for the ARCR was established.Modeling results indicate the following:(1)The ARCR increases with the enhancement of turbulence.The rate of increase was fastest when the turbulent dissipation rate was between 0 and 20 cm^(2)s^(-3),slower when it was between 20 and 50 cm^(2)s^(-3),and intermediate when it was between 50 and 500 cm^(2)s^(-3).(2)Compared to the case without turbulence,the ARCR increased by approximately 20% when the turbulent dissipation rate was 100 cm^(2)s^(-3),and by over 100% when it was 500 cm^(2)s^(-3).Therefore,turbulence has a significant impact on the ARCR only when the turbulent dissipation rate exceeds 100 cm^(2)s^(-3).(3)The influence of turbulence on ARCR results increases with an increase in cloud water content.When there was no turbulence and the cloud water content exceeded 0.68 g m^(-3),a strong linear relationship existed between cloud water content and the ARCR.(4)The effect of turbulence on the ARCR results decreases rapidly with an increase in the cloud droplet number concentration.(5)The impact of turbulence on the ARCR becomes stronger with a decrease in the shape parameter,which corresponds to the increase in the relative dispersion of the cloud droplet spectrum(i.e.,as the cloud droplet spectrum broadens).展开更多
Accurate descriptions of cloud droplet spectra from aerosol activation to vapor condensation using microphysical parameterization schemes are crucial for numerical simulations of precipitation and climate change in we...Accurate descriptions of cloud droplet spectra from aerosol activation to vapor condensation using microphysical parameterization schemes are crucial for numerical simulations of precipitation and climate change in weather forecasting and climate prediction models.Hence,the latest activation and triple-moment condensation schemes were combined to simulate and analyze the evolution characteristics of a cloud droplet spectrum from activation to condensation and compared with a high-resolution Lagrangian bin model and the current double-moment condensation schemes,in which the spectral shape parameter is fixed or diagnosed by an empirical formula.The results demonstrate that the latest schemes effectively capture the evolution characteristics of the cloud droplet spectrum during activation and condensation,which is in line with the performance of the bin model.The simulation of the latest activation and condensation schemes in a parcel model shows that the cloud droplet spectrum gradually widens and exhibits a multimodal distribution during the activation process,accompanied by a decrease in the spectral shape and slope parameters over time.Conversely,during the condensation process,the cloud droplet spectrum gradually narrows,resulting in increases in the spectral shape and slope parameters.However,these double-moment schemes fail to accurately replicate the evolution of the cloud droplet spectrum and its multimodal distribution characteristics.Furthermore,the latest schemes were coupled into a 1.5D cumulus model,and an observation case was simulated.The simulations confirm that the cloud droplet spectrum appears wider at the supersaturated cloud base and cloud top due to activation,while it becomes narrower at the middle altitudes of the cloud due to condensation growth.展开更多
A double-moment cloud microphysics scheme requires an assumption for cloud droplet size distributions(DSDs).However,since observations of cloud DSDs are limited,default values for shape parameters and cloud condensati...A double-moment cloud microphysics scheme requires an assumption for cloud droplet size distributions(DSDs).However,since observations of cloud DSDs are limited,default values for shape parameters and cloud condensation nuclei activation parameters are often used in numerical simulations.In this study,the effects of cloud DSDs on numerical simulations of warm stratiform precipitation around Tokyo are investigated using the Japan Meteorological Agency's non-hydrostatic model,which incorporates a double-moment cloud microphysics scheme.Simulations using the default cloud DSD showed higher cloud droplet number concentrations and lower radar reflectivity than observed data,suggesting that the default cloud DSD is too narrow.Simulations with a cloud DSD based on in situ cloud observations corrected these errors.In addition,observation-based cloud DSDs affected rainfall amounts through the autoconversion rate of cloud water and improved the threat scores.These results suggest that realistic cloud DSDs should be provided for double-moment cloud microphysics schemes in scientific studies.展开更多
This paper documents a study to examine the sensitivity to cloud droplet effective radius and liquid water path and the alleviation the energy imbalance at the top of the atmosphere and at the surface in the latest ve...This paper documents a study to examine the sensitivity to cloud droplet effective radius and liquid water path and the alleviation the energy imbalance at the top of the atmosphere and at the surface in the latest version of the Grid-point Atmospheric Model of the State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics （LASG）, Institute of Atmospheric Physics （IAP） （GAMIL1.1.0）. Considerable negative biases in all flux components, and thus an energy imbalance, are found in GAMIL1.1.0. In order to alleviate the energy imbalance, two modifications, namely an increase in cloud droplet effective radius and a decrease in cloud liquid water path, have been made to the cloud properties used in GAMIL. With the increased cloud droplet effective radius, the single scattering albedo of clouds is reduced, and thus the reflection of solar radiation into space by clouds is reduced and the net solar radiation flux at the top of the atmosphere is increased. With the reduced cloud optical depth, the net surface shortwave radiation flux is increased, causing a net warming over the land surface. This results in an increase in both sensible and latent heat fluxes over the land regions, which is largely balanced by the increased terrestrial radiation fluxes. Consequently, the energy balance at the top of atmosphere and at the surface is achieved with energy flux components consistent with available satellite observations.展开更多
In the study of warm clouds,there are many outstanding questions.Cloud droplet size distributions are much wider,and warm rain is initiated in a shorter time and with a shallower cloud depth than theoretical expectati...In the study of warm clouds,there are many outstanding questions.Cloud droplet size distributions are much wider,and warm rain is initiated in a shorter time and with a shallower cloud depth than theoretical expectations.This review summarizes the studies related to the effects of turbulent fluctuations and turbulent entrainment-mixing on the broadening of droplet size distributions and warm rain initiation,including observational,laboratorial,numerical,and theoretical achievements.Particular attention is paid to studies by Chinese scientists since the 1950s,since most results have been published in Chinese.The review reveals that high-resolution observations and simulations,and laboratory experiments,are needed because knowledge of the detailed physical processes involved in the effects of turbulence and entrainment-mixing on cloud microphysics still remains elusive.The effects of turbulent fluctuations and entrainment-mixing processes have been unrealistically separated in most theoretical studies.They could be unified by further advancement of a systems theory into a predictive theory.Developing parameterizations for the effects of fluctuations and entrainment-mixing processes is still in its infancy,and more studies are warranted.展开更多
From first principles, we find that the radar threshold reflectivity between nonprecipitating clouds and precipitating clouds is strongly related to not only the cloud droplet number concentration but also the spectra...From first principles, we find that the radar threshold reflectivity between nonprecipitating clouds and precipitating clouds is strongly related to not only the cloud droplet number concentration but also the spectral dispersion of cloud droplet size distributions. The further investigation indicates that the threshold value is an increasing function of spectral dispersion and cloud droplet number concentration. These results may improve our understanding of the cloud-precipitation interaction and the aerosol indirect effect.展开更多
The shape parameter of the Gamma size distribution plays a key role in the evolution of the cloud droplet spectrum in the bulk parameterization schemes. However, due to the inaccurate specification of the shape parame...The shape parameter of the Gamma size distribution plays a key role in the evolution of the cloud droplet spectrum in the bulk parameterization schemes. However, due to the inaccurate specification of the shape parameter in the commonly used bulk double-moment schemes, the cloud droplet spectra cannot reasonably be described during the condensation process. Therefore, a newly-developed triple-parameter condensation scheme with the shape parameter diagnosed through the number concentration, cloud water content, and reflectivity factor of cloud droplets can be applied to improve the evolution of the cloud droplet spectrum. The simulation with the new parameterization scheme was compared to those with a high-resolution Lagrangian bin scheme, the double-moment schemes in a parcel model, and the observation in a 1.5D Eulerian model that consists of two cylinders. The new scheme with the shape parameter varying with time and space can accurately simulate the evolution of the cloud droplet spectrum. Furthermore, the volume-mean radius and cloud water content simulated with the new scheme match the Lagrangian analytical solutions well, and the errors are steady, within approximately 0.2%.展开更多
Cloud microphysical properties are significantly affected by entrainment and mixing processes.However,it is unclear how the entrainment rate affects the relative dispersion of cloud droplet size distribution.Previousl...Cloud microphysical properties are significantly affected by entrainment and mixing processes.However,it is unclear how the entrainment rate affects the relative dispersion of cloud droplet size distribution.Previously,the relationship between relative dispersion and entrainment rate was found to be positive or negative.To reconcile the contrasting relationships,the Explicit Mixing Parcel Model is used to determine the underlying mechanisms.When evaporation is dominated by small droplets,and the entrained environmental air is further saturated during mixing,the relationship is negative.However,when the evaporation of big droplets is dominant,the relationship is positive.Whether or not the cloud condensation nuclei are considered in the entrained environmental air is a key factor as condensation on the entrained condensation nuclei is the main source of small droplets.However,if cloud condensation nuclei are not entrained,the relationship is positive.If cloud condensation nuclei are entrained,the relationship is dependent on many other factors.High values of vertical velocity,relative humidity of environmental air,and liquid water content,and low values of droplet number concentration,are more likely to cause the negative relationship since new saturation is easier to achieve by evaporation of small droplets.Further,the signs of the relationship are not strongly affected by the turbulence dissipation rate,but the higher dissipation rate causes the positive relationship to be more significant for a larger entrainment rate.A conceptual model is proposed to reconcile the contrasting relationships.This work enhances the understanding of relative dispersion and lays a foundation for the quantification of entrainment-mixing mechanisms.展开更多
Cloud droplet dispersion is an important parameter in estimating aerosol indirect effect on climate in general circulation models（GCMs）.This study investigates droplet dispersion in shallow cumulus clouds under diff...Cloud droplet dispersion is an important parameter in estimating aerosol indirect effect on climate in general circulation models（GCMs）.This study investigates droplet dispersion in shallow cumulus clouds under different aerosol conditions using three-dimensional large eddy simulations（LES）.It is found that cloud droplet mean radius,standard deviation,and relative dispersion generally decrease as aerosol mixing ratio increases from 25 mg-1（clean case） to 100 mg-1（moderate case）,and to 2000 mg-1（polluted case）.Under all the three simulated aerosol conditions,cloud droplet mean radius and standard deviation increase with height.However,droplet relative dispersion increases with height only in the polluted case,and does not vary with height in the clean and moderate cases.The mechanisms for cloud droplet dispersion are also investigated.An additional simulation without considering droplet collision-coalescence and sedimentation under the aerosol mixing ratio of 25 mg-1 shows smaller values of droplet mean radius,standard deviation,and relative dispersion as compared to the base clean case.This indicates that droplet collision-coalescence plays an important role in broadening droplet spectra.Results also suggest that the impact of homogeneous mixing on cumulus cloud droplet spectra is significant under all the three simulated aerosol conditions.In weak mixing（strong updraft） regions where clouds are closer to be adiabatic,cloud droplets tend to have larger mean radius,smaller standard deviation,and hence smaller relative dispersion than those in stronger mixing（downdraft or weak updraft） regions.The parameterized cloud optical depth in terms of cloud liquid water content,droplet number concentration,and relative dispersion is only slightly smaller than the result calculated from detailed droplet spectra,indicating that current parameterization of cloud optical depth as used in many GCMs is plausible for low clouds.展开更多
The relative dispersion of the cloud droplet spectra or the shape parameter is usually assumed to be a constant in the two-parameter cloud microphysical scheme, or is derived through statistical analysis. However, obs...The relative dispersion of the cloud droplet spectra or the shape parameter is usually assumed to be a constant in the two-parameter cloud microphysical scheme, or is derived through statistical analysis. However, observations have revealed that the use of such methods is not applicable for all actual cases. In this study, formulas were derived based on cloud microphysics and the properties of gamma function to solve the average cloud droplet radius and the cloud droplet spectral shape parameter. The gamma distribution shape parameter, relative dispersion, and cloud droplet spectral distribution can be derived through solving the droplet spectral shape parameter equation using the average droplet radius, volume radius, and their ratio, thereby deriving an analytic solution. We further examined the equation for the droplet spectral shape parameter using the observational droplet spectral data, and results revealed the feasibility of the method. In addition, when the method was applied to the two-parameter cloud microphysical scheme of the Weather Research and Forecast(WRF) model to further examine its feasibility, the modeling results showed that it improved precipitation simulation performance, thereby indicating that it can be utilized in two-parameter cloud microphysical schemes.展开更多
基金supported by the Science and Technology Development Fund of Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences(CAMS)(Grant No.2024KJ001)。
文摘Based on the stochastic collision-coalescence equation for cloud droplets and the definition of the autoconversion rate from cloud droplets to raindrops(ARCR),this study analyzes and derives an ARCR equation from the collision-coalescence process.This equation narrows the integration range of the stochastic collision-coalescence equation,providing a theoretical basis for accurately and efficiently calculating the ARCR.Utilizing the results of the turbulent collision kernel and turbulent collision efficiency,as well as the ARCR equation,an accurate and efficient model for the ARCR was established.Modeling results indicate the following:(1)The ARCR increases with the enhancement of turbulence.The rate of increase was fastest when the turbulent dissipation rate was between 0 and 20 cm^(2)s^(-3),slower when it was between 20 and 50 cm^(2)s^(-3),and intermediate when it was between 50 and 500 cm^(2)s^(-3).(2)Compared to the case without turbulence,the ARCR increased by approximately 20% when the turbulent dissipation rate was 100 cm^(2)s^(-3),and by over 100% when it was 500 cm^(2)s^(-3).Therefore,turbulence has a significant impact on the ARCR only when the turbulent dissipation rate exceeds 100 cm^(2)s^(-3).(3)The influence of turbulence on ARCR results increases with an increase in cloud water content.When there was no turbulence and the cloud water content exceeded 0.68 g m^(-3),a strong linear relationship existed between cloud water content and the ARCR.(4)The effect of turbulence on the ARCR results decreases rapidly with an increase in the cloud droplet number concentration.(5)The impact of turbulence on the ARCR becomes stronger with a decrease in the shape parameter,which corresponds to the increase in the relative dispersion of the cloud droplet spectrum(i.e.,as the cloud droplet spectrum broadens).
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundations of China(Grant Nos.42305163 and U22A20577)the Construction Project of Weather Modification Ability in Central China(Grant No.ZQC-H22256)+2 种基金the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDB0760300)the Projects of the Earth System Numerical Simulation Facility(Grant Nos.2024-EL-PT-000707,2023-ELPT-000482,2023-EL-ZD-00026,and 2022-EL-PT-00083)the STS Program of the Inner Mongolia Meteorological Service,Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology,Chinese Academy of Sciences,and Institute of Atmospheric Physics,Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.2021CG0047)。
文摘Accurate descriptions of cloud droplet spectra from aerosol activation to vapor condensation using microphysical parameterization schemes are crucial for numerical simulations of precipitation and climate change in weather forecasting and climate prediction models.Hence,the latest activation and triple-moment condensation schemes were combined to simulate and analyze the evolution characteristics of a cloud droplet spectrum from activation to condensation and compared with a high-resolution Lagrangian bin model and the current double-moment condensation schemes,in which the spectral shape parameter is fixed or diagnosed by an empirical formula.The results demonstrate that the latest schemes effectively capture the evolution characteristics of the cloud droplet spectrum during activation and condensation,which is in line with the performance of the bin model.The simulation of the latest activation and condensation schemes in a parcel model shows that the cloud droplet spectrum gradually widens and exhibits a multimodal distribution during the activation process,accompanied by a decrease in the spectral shape and slope parameters over time.Conversely,during the condensation process,the cloud droplet spectrum gradually narrows,resulting in increases in the spectral shape and slope parameters.However,these double-moment schemes fail to accurately replicate the evolution of the cloud droplet spectrum and its multimodal distribution characteristics.Furthermore,the latest schemes were coupled into a 1.5D cumulus model,and an observation case was simulated.The simulations confirm that the cloud droplet spectrum appears wider at the supersaturated cloud base and cloud top due to activation,while it becomes narrower at the middle altitudes of the cloud due to condensation growth.
基金supported by Grants in Aid from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science(JSPS)KAKENHI[grant numbers JP21H01163 and JP23H00149].
文摘A double-moment cloud microphysics scheme requires an assumption for cloud droplet size distributions(DSDs).However,since observations of cloud DSDs are limited,default values for shape parameters and cloud condensation nuclei activation parameters are often used in numerical simulations.In this study,the effects of cloud DSDs on numerical simulations of warm stratiform precipitation around Tokyo are investigated using the Japan Meteorological Agency's non-hydrostatic model,which incorporates a double-moment cloud microphysics scheme.Simulations using the default cloud DSD showed higher cloud droplet number concentrations and lower radar reflectivity than observed data,suggesting that the default cloud DSD is too narrow.Simulations with a cloud DSD based on in situ cloud observations corrected these errors.In addition,observation-based cloud DSDs affected rainfall amounts through the autoconversion rate of cloud water and improved the threat scores.These results suggest that realistic cloud DSDs should be provided for double-moment cloud microphysics schemes in scientific studies.
基金This work was jointly supported by the 973 Project(Grant No.2005CB321703)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.40221503)the Chinese Academy of Sciences International Partnership Creative Group entitled"The Climate System Model Development and Application Studies".
文摘This paper documents a study to examine the sensitivity to cloud droplet effective radius and liquid water path and the alleviation the energy imbalance at the top of the atmosphere and at the surface in the latest version of the Grid-point Atmospheric Model of the State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics （LASG）, Institute of Atmospheric Physics （IAP） （GAMIL1.1.0）. Considerable negative biases in all flux components, and thus an energy imbalance, are found in GAMIL1.1.0. In order to alleviate the energy imbalance, two modifications, namely an increase in cloud droplet effective radius and a decrease in cloud liquid water path, have been made to the cloud properties used in GAMIL. With the increased cloud droplet effective radius, the single scattering albedo of clouds is reduced, and thus the reflection of solar radiation into space by clouds is reduced and the net solar radiation flux at the top of the atmosphere is increased. With the reduced cloud optical depth, the net surface shortwave radiation flux is increased, causing a net warming over the land surface. This results in an increase in both sensible and latent heat fluxes over the land regions, which is largely balanced by the increased terrestrial radiation fluxes. Consequently, the energy balance at the top of atmosphere and at the surface is achieved with energy flux components consistent with available satellite observations.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China[grant number 2017YFA060 4000]the China Meteorological Administration Special Public Welfare Research Fund[grant number GYHY201406001]+5 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)[grant number 91537108]the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province,China[grant number BK20160041]the U.S.Department of Energy’s BER Atmospheric System Research Program[grant number DE-SC00112704]the Six Talent Peak Project in Jiangsu,China[grant number 2015-JY-011]the 333 High-level Talents Training Project in Jiangsu[grant number BRA2016424]the NSFC[grant number 41305120]
文摘In the study of warm clouds,there are many outstanding questions.Cloud droplet size distributions are much wider,and warm rain is initiated in a shorter time and with a shallower cloud depth than theoretical expectations.This review summarizes the studies related to the effects of turbulent fluctuations and turbulent entrainment-mixing on the broadening of droplet size distributions and warm rain initiation,including observational,laboratorial,numerical,and theoretical achievements.Particular attention is paid to studies by Chinese scientists since the 1950s,since most results have been published in Chinese.The review reveals that high-resolution observations and simulations,and laboratory experiments,are needed because knowledge of the detailed physical processes involved in the effects of turbulence and entrainment-mixing on cloud microphysics still remains elusive.The effects of turbulent fluctuations and entrainment-mixing processes have been unrealistically separated in most theoretical studies.They could be unified by further advancement of a systems theory into a predictive theory.Developing parameterizations for the effects of fluctuations and entrainment-mixing processes is still in its infancy,and more studies are warranted.
基金Project supported by the Special Foundation for China Nonprofit Industry (Grant No. GYHY200706036)the National Excellent Young Scientists Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40825008)the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2010CB833406)
文摘From first principles, we find that the radar threshold reflectivity between nonprecipitating clouds and precipitating clouds is strongly related to not only the cloud droplet number concentration but also the spectral dispersion of cloud droplet size distributions. The further investigation indicates that the threshold value is an increasing function of spectral dispersion and cloud droplet number concentration. These results may improve our understanding of the cloud-precipitation interaction and the aerosol indirect effect.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41275147 and 41875173)the STS Program of Inner Mongolia Meteorological Service, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. 2021CG0047)
文摘The shape parameter of the Gamma size distribution plays a key role in the evolution of the cloud droplet spectrum in the bulk parameterization schemes. However, due to the inaccurate specification of the shape parameter in the commonly used bulk double-moment schemes, the cloud droplet spectra cannot reasonably be described during the condensation process. Therefore, a newly-developed triple-parameter condensation scheme with the shape parameter diagnosed through the number concentration, cloud water content, and reflectivity factor of cloud droplets can be applied to improve the evolution of the cloud droplet spectrum. The simulation with the new parameterization scheme was compared to those with a high-resolution Lagrangian bin scheme, the double-moment schemes in a parcel model, and the observation in a 1.5D Eulerian model that consists of two cylinders. The new scheme with the shape parameter varying with time and space can accurately simulate the evolution of the cloud droplet spectrum. Furthermore, the volume-mean radius and cloud water content simulated with the new scheme match the Lagrangian analytical solutions well, and the errors are steady, within approximately 0.2%.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41822504, 42175099, 42027804, 42075073 and 42075077)the National Center of Meteorology, Abu Dhabi, UAE under the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science+4 种基金LIU is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy Atmospheric System Research (ASR) Program (DE-SC00112704)Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) under Award 33504LUO is supported by Research Fund of Civil Aviation Flight University of China (J2022-037)LI is supported by Research Fund of Civil Aviation Flight University of China (09005001)WU is supported by Research on Key of Manmachine Ring in Plateau Flight (FZ2020ZZ03)
文摘Cloud microphysical properties are significantly affected by entrainment and mixing processes.However,it is unclear how the entrainment rate affects the relative dispersion of cloud droplet size distribution.Previously,the relationship between relative dispersion and entrainment rate was found to be positive or negative.To reconcile the contrasting relationships,the Explicit Mixing Parcel Model is used to determine the underlying mechanisms.When evaporation is dominated by small droplets,and the entrained environmental air is further saturated during mixing,the relationship is negative.However,when the evaporation of big droplets is dominant,the relationship is positive.Whether or not the cloud condensation nuclei are considered in the entrained environmental air is a key factor as condensation on the entrained condensation nuclei is the main source of small droplets.However,if cloud condensation nuclei are not entrained,the relationship is positive.If cloud condensation nuclei are entrained,the relationship is dependent on many other factors.High values of vertical velocity,relative humidity of environmental air,and liquid water content,and low values of droplet number concentration,are more likely to cause the negative relationship since new saturation is easier to achieve by evaporation of small droplets.Further,the signs of the relationship are not strongly affected by the turbulence dissipation rate,but the higher dissipation rate causes the positive relationship to be more significant for a larger entrainment rate.A conceptual model is proposed to reconcile the contrasting relationships.This work enhances the understanding of relative dispersion and lays a foundation for the quantification of entrainment-mixing mechanisms.
基金Supported by the 11th Five-Year National Key Technology R&D Program of China under Grant No. 2006BAC12B003National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No. 40675004
文摘Cloud droplet dispersion is an important parameter in estimating aerosol indirect effect on climate in general circulation models（GCMs）.This study investigates droplet dispersion in shallow cumulus clouds under different aerosol conditions using three-dimensional large eddy simulations（LES）.It is found that cloud droplet mean radius,standard deviation,and relative dispersion generally decrease as aerosol mixing ratio increases from 25 mg-1（clean case） to 100 mg-1（moderate case）,and to 2000 mg-1（polluted case）.Under all the three simulated aerosol conditions,cloud droplet mean radius and standard deviation increase with height.However,droplet relative dispersion increases with height only in the polluted case,and does not vary with height in the clean and moderate cases.The mechanisms for cloud droplet dispersion are also investigated.An additional simulation without considering droplet collision-coalescence and sedimentation under the aerosol mixing ratio of 25 mg-1 shows smaller values of droplet mean radius,standard deviation,and relative dispersion as compared to the base clean case.This indicates that droplet collision-coalescence plays an important role in broadening droplet spectra.Results also suggest that the impact of homogeneous mixing on cumulus cloud droplet spectra is significant under all the three simulated aerosol conditions.In weak mixing（strong updraft） regions where clouds are closer to be adiabatic,cloud droplets tend to have larger mean radius,smaller standard deviation,and hence smaller relative dispersion than those in stronger mixing（downdraft or weak updraft） regions.The parameterized cloud optical depth in terms of cloud liquid water content,droplet number concentration,and relative dispersion is only slightly smaller than the result calculated from detailed droplet spectra,indicating that current parameterization of cloud optical depth as used in many GCMs is plausible for low clouds.
基金supported by National Basic Research Program of China(Grant No.2011CB403406)
文摘The relative dispersion of the cloud droplet spectra or the shape parameter is usually assumed to be a constant in the two-parameter cloud microphysical scheme, or is derived through statistical analysis. However, observations have revealed that the use of such methods is not applicable for all actual cases. In this study, formulas were derived based on cloud microphysics and the properties of gamma function to solve the average cloud droplet radius and the cloud droplet spectral shape parameter. The gamma distribution shape parameter, relative dispersion, and cloud droplet spectral distribution can be derived through solving the droplet spectral shape parameter equation using the average droplet radius, volume radius, and their ratio, thereby deriving an analytic solution. We further examined the equation for the droplet spectral shape parameter using the observational droplet spectral data, and results revealed the feasibility of the method. In addition, when the method was applied to the two-parameter cloud microphysical scheme of the Weather Research and Forecast(WRF) model to further examine its feasibility, the modeling results showed that it improved precipitation simulation performance, thereby indicating that it can be utilized in two-parameter cloud microphysical schemes.
