Comprehensive mapping and characteristic regimes of aerosol effects on the formation and evolution of pyro-convective clouds

Chang, D.; Cheng, Y.; Reutter, P.; Trentmann, J.; Burrows, S. M.; Spichtinger, P.; Nordmann, S.; Andreae, M. O.; Poschl, U.; Su, H.

doi:10.5194/acp-15-10325-2015

Comprehensive mapping and characteristic regimes of aerosol effects on the formation and evolution of pyro-convective clouds

Journal Article · Mon Sep 21 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (Online)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-10325-2015· OSTI ID:1229933

Chang, D. ^[1]; Cheng, Y. ^[1]; Reutter, P. ^[2]; Trentmann, J. ^[3]; ^[4]; Spichtinger, P. ^[2]; Nordmann, S. ^[1]; ^[1]; ^[1]; ^[1]

Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz (Germany)
Johannes Gutenberg Univ. Mainz, Mainz (Germany)
German Weather Service (DWD), Offenbach (Germany)
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Here, 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 (N_CN) 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 N_CN 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 N_CN of ~ 1000 to 3000 cm^–3. (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.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 1229933

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA--100498; KP1703020

Journal Information:: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (Online), Journal Name: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (Online) Journal Issue: 18 Vol. 15; ISSN 1680-7324

Publisher:: European Geosciences UnionCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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