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Title: Broadening of Modeled Cloud Droplet Spectra Using Bin Microphysics in an Eulerian Spatial Domain

Abstract

This study investigates droplet size distribution (DSD) characteristics from condensational growth and transport in Eulerian dynamical models with bin microphysics. A hierarchy of modeling frameworks is utilized, including parcel, one-dimensional (1D), and three-dimensional large-eddy simulation (LES). The bin DSDs from the 1D model, which includes only vertical advection and condensational growth, are nearly as broad as those from the LES and in line with observed DSD widths for stratocumulus clouds. These DSDs are much broader than those from Lagrangian microphysical calculations within a parcel framework that serve as a numerical benchmark for the 1D tests. In contrast, the bin-modeled DSDs are similar to the Lagrangian microphysical benchmark for a rising parcel in which Eulerian transport is not considered. These results indicate that numerical diffusion associated with vertical advection is a key contributor to broadening DSDs in the 1D model and LES. This DSD broadening from vertical numerical diffusion is unphysical, in contrast to the physical mixing processes that previous studies have indicated broaden DSDs in real clouds. It is proposed that artificial DSD broadening from vertical numerical diffusion compensates for underrepresented horizontal variability and mixing of different droplet populations in typical LES configurations with bin microphysics, or the neglect ofmore » other mechanisms that broaden DSDs such as growth of giant cloud condensation nuclei. Finally, these results call into question the ability of Eulerian dynamical models with bin microphysics to investigate the physical mechanisms for DSD broadening, even though they may reasonably simulate overall DSD characteristics.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [3]
+ Show Author Affiliations
  1. National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado
  2. Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
  3. Department of Atmospheric Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States); State Univ. of New York (SUNY), Albany, NY (United States); Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
OSTI Identifier:
1480169
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1611951
Grant/Contract Number:  
SC0012827; SC0016579; SC0016354
Resource Type:
Published Article
Journal Name:
Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Name: Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences Journal Volume: 75 Journal Issue: 11; Journal ID: ISSN 0022-4928
Publisher:
American Meteorological Society
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; meteorology & atmospheric sciences; transport; advection; cloud microphysics; drop size distribution; clouds

Citation Formats

Morrison, Hugh, Witte, Mikael, Bryan, George H., Harrington, Jerry Y., and Lebo, Zachary J. Broadening of Modeled Cloud Droplet Spectra Using Bin Microphysics in an Eulerian Spatial Domain. United States: N. p., 2018. Web. doi:10.1175/JAS-D-18-0055.1.
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Morrison, Hugh, Witte, Mikael, Bryan, George H., Harrington, Jerry Y., & Lebo, Zachary J. Broadening of Modeled Cloud Droplet Spectra Using Bin Microphysics in an Eulerian Spatial Domain. United States. https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-18-0055.1
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Morrison, Hugh, Witte, Mikael, Bryan, George H., Harrington, Jerry Y., and Lebo, Zachary J. Thu . "Broadening of Modeled Cloud Droplet Spectra Using Bin Microphysics in an Eulerian Spatial Domain". United States. https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-18-0055.1.
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@article{osti_1480169,
title = {Broadening of Modeled Cloud Droplet Spectra Using Bin Microphysics in an Eulerian Spatial Domain},
author = {Morrison, Hugh and Witte, Mikael and Bryan, George H. and Harrington, Jerry Y. and Lebo, Zachary J.},
abstractNote = {This study investigates droplet size distribution (DSD) characteristics from condensational growth and transport in Eulerian dynamical models with bin microphysics. A hierarchy of modeling frameworks is utilized, including parcel, one-dimensional (1D), and three-dimensional large-eddy simulation (LES). The bin DSDs from the 1D model, which includes only vertical advection and condensational growth, are nearly as broad as those from the LES and in line with observed DSD widths for stratocumulus clouds. These DSDs are much broader than those from Lagrangian microphysical calculations within a parcel framework that serve as a numerical benchmark for the 1D tests. In contrast, the bin-modeled DSDs are similar to the Lagrangian microphysical benchmark for a rising parcel in which Eulerian transport is not considered. These results indicate that numerical diffusion associated with vertical advection is a key contributor to broadening DSDs in the 1D model and LES. This DSD broadening from vertical numerical diffusion is unphysical, in contrast to the physical mixing processes that previous studies have indicated broaden DSDs in real clouds. It is proposed that artificial DSD broadening from vertical numerical diffusion compensates for underrepresented horizontal variability and mixing of different droplet populations in typical LES configurations with bin microphysics, or the neglect of other mechanisms that broaden DSDs such as growth of giant cloud condensation nuclei. Finally, these results call into question the ability of Eulerian dynamical models with bin microphysics to investigate the physical mechanisms for DSD broadening, even though they may reasonably simulate overall DSD characteristics.},
doi = {10.1175/JAS-D-18-0055.1},
journal = {Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences},
number = 11,
volume = 75,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2018},
month = {Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2018}
}
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Journal Article:
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Publisher's Version of Record
https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-18-0055.1
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