Parameterizations of microphysical processes in clouds

Technical Report · Sat Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:6538377

Lee, I Y

We reviewed cloud physics parameterizations comprehensively in order to examine their theoretical bases and to evaluate their applicability to mesoscale modeling. We found that the constant distribution function of hydrometeors assumed in previous work are unrealistic. To circumvent this problem, we have made new parameterizations by multiple regression on mixing ratios of water vapor, cloud water, rainwater, cloud ice, graupel, and snowflakes. We used solution fields derived from simulations with a cloud model that incorporates sophisticated treatments of microphysics and dynamics. In the detailed simulations from which they were derived, the regression parameterizations generally give better results than do the existing parameterizations tested. In a Lagrangian air parcel model under variable atmospheric conditions, the new parameterizations give consistent results and are computationally more efficient than previously available parameterizations. 77 refs., 35 figs., 4 tabs.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA). Environmental Research Div.
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/ER
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6538377
• Report Number(s): ANL/ER-2; ON: DE90017820
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540110*
540120 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ACIDIFICATION
AEROSOLS
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMISTRY
CLOUDS
COLLOIDS
DEPOSITION
DISPERSIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EQUATIONS
FLUIDS
GASES
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MOISTURE
RAIN
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
SNOW
SOLS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
VAPORS
WATER VAPOR