A parameterization of cloud droplet nucleation
- Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
Droplet nucleation is a fundamental cloud process. The number of aerosols activated to form cloud droplets influences not only the number of aerosols scavenged by clouds but also the size of the cloud droplets. Cloud droplet size influences the cloud albedo and the conversion of cloud water to precipitation. Global aerosol models are presently being developed with the intention of coupling with global atmospheric circulation models to evaluate the influence of aerosols and aerosol-cloud interactions on climate. If these and other coupled models are to address issues of aerosol-interactions, the droplet nucleation process must be adequately represented. Ghan et al. have introduced a droplet nucleation parameterization for a single aerosol type that offers certain advantages over the popular Twomey parameterization. Here we describe the generalization of that parameterization to the case of multiple aerosol types, with estimation of aerosol mass as well as number activated.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 10129922
- Report Number(s):
- PNL-SA-23042; CONF-940115-31; ON: DE94007469
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 8. Joint conference on applications of air pollution meterology. 74. American Meteorological Society annual meeting,Nashville, TN (United States),23-28 Jan 1994; Other Information: PBD: Jan 1994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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