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Title: Cloud microphysical relationships and their implication on entrainment and mixing mechanism for the stratocumulus clouds measured during the VOCALS project

Journal Article · · Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JD022802· OSTI ID:1201352
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [1]
  1. Yonsei Univ., Seoul (Korea)
  2. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
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Cloud microphysical data obtained from G-1 aircraft flights over the southeastern pacific during the VOCALS-Rex field campaign were analyzed for evidence of entrainment mixing of dry air from above cloud top. Mixing diagram analysis was made for the horizontal flight data recorded at 1 Hz and 40 Hz. The dominant observed feature, a positive relationship between cloud droplet mean volume (V) and liquid water content (L), suggested occurrence of homogeneous mixing. On the other hand, estimation of the relevant scale parameters (i.e., transition length scale and transition scale number) consistently indicated inhomogeneous mixing. Importantly, the flight altitudes of the measurements were significantly below cloud top. We speculate that mixing of the entrained air near the cloud top may have indeed been inhomogeneous; but due to vertical circulation mixing, the correlation between V and L became positive at the measurement altitudes in mid-level of clouds, because during their descent, cloud droplets evaporate, faster in more diluted cloud parcels, leading to a positive correlation between V and L regardless of the mixing mechanism near the cloud top.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC00112704
OSTI ID:
1201352
Report Number(s):
BNL-108011-2015-JA; R&D Project: 2016-BNL-EE630EECA-Budg; KP1701000
Journal Information:
Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, Vol. 120, Issue 10; ISSN 2169-897X
Publisher:
American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 40 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (10)

On Which Microphysical Time Scales to Use in Studies of Entrainment‐Mixing Mechanisms in Clouds journal April 2018
Cloud-edge mixing: Direct numerical simulation and observations in Indian Monsoon clouds: DNS FOR CLOUD-EDGE MIXING journal February 2017
Droplet size distributions in turbulent clouds: experimental evaluation of theoretical distributions journal October 2019
Exploring aerosol–cloud interaction using VOCALS-REx aircraft measurements journal January 2019
Search for Microphysical Signatures of Stochastic Condensation in Marine Boundary Layer Clouds Using Airborne Digital Holography journal March 2019
Constraining the aerosol influence on cloud liquid water path journal January 2019
Theoretical analysis of mixing in liquid clouds – Part IV: DSD evolution and mixing diagrams journal January 2018
Aerosol–cloud closure study on cloud optical properties using remotely piloted aircraft measurements during a BACCHUS field campaign in Cyprus journal January 2019
Cloud Adiabaticity and Its Relationship to Marine Stratocumulus Characteristics Over the Northeast Pacific Ocean journal December 2018
Scale Dependence of Cloud Microphysical Response to Turbulent Entrainment and Mixing journal November 2018

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