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Giant Cloud Condensation Nuclei Facilitate Drizzle Formation in Stratocumulus—Insights From a Combined Observation‐Modeling Framework

Journal Article · · Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2025jd044736· OSTI ID:3008079
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [2];  [4]
  1. Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
  2. Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States)
  3. Finnish Meteorological Inst. (FMI), Helsinki (Finland)
  4. Stony Brook Univ., NY (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations
The mechanism for initiating drizzle drop remains a gap in the current understanding of warm rain formation. One prevalent hypothesis suggests that the presence of Giant Cloud Condensation Nuclei (GCCN) generates drizzle‐sized drops necessary to trigger the Collision‐Coalescence (C‐C) process. Here, in this study, this hypothesis is investigated using a novel framework that integrates in situ observations, remote sensing measurements, and idealized models. Results show that GCCN can efficiently generate drizzle drops through condensation, producing a broad Droplet Size Distribution (DSD) comparable to in situ observations. The large drizzle drop and broad DSD strongly facilitate C‐C, further accelerating drizzle initiation. To compare with observation, the model‐generated DSDs are used to generate radar Doppler spectra where radar reflectivity and Doppler skewness is estimated. The simulated radar quantities correspond well with radar observations, providing critical evidence for the GCCN‐induced drizzle initiation mechanism.
Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0012704
OSTI ID:
3008079
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 3006811
Report Number(s):
BNL--229186-2025-JAAM
Journal Information:
Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres Journal Issue: 22 Vol. 130; ISSN 2169-8996; ISSN 2169-897X
Publisher:
American Geophysical Union; WileyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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