Cloud-Scale Droplet Number Sensitivity to Liquid Water Path in Marine Stratocumulus

de Szoeke, Simon P.; Verlinden, Kathryn L.; Covert, David

doi:10.1029/2017jd027508

Title: Cloud-Scale Droplet Number Sensitivity to Liquid Water Path in Marine Stratocumulus

Journal Article · Thu Apr 26 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2017jd027508· OSTI ID:1539728

^[1];

^[1]; Covert, David ^[2]

Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR (United States)
Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA (United States)

Abstract Cloud droplet number concentration ( N _c ) is retrieved from remotely observed marine stratocumulus cloud liquid water path (LWP), cloud optical depth ( τ _c ), and cloud thickness, using an optical model that assumes liquid water content (LWC) increases linearly from cloud base. Assuming that LWC is vertically uniform would underestimate τ _c by 5% and N _c by 14%. Individual retrievals of N _c from 10‐min averages vary by orders of magnitude from long‐term averages. Surface cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) number concentration N _CCN is weakly but significantly correlated with N _c ( R = 0.3) for the day leading and 6 hr following N _c . Consistent with coalescence and drizzle scavenging cloud droplets, lag correlations show that N _c decreases for 1 hr after the peak area‐average rain rate. Greater observed LWP for lower N _c [d(log N _c )/d(log LWP) = −2.3] is consistent with enhanced entrainment drying of clouds with greater N _c and consistent with removal of N _c by thicker clouds with more coalescence and drizzle. Stronger precipitation in clouds with greater N _c is the opposite sensitivity as expected were LWP to be controlled by the “cloud lifetime” indirect aerosol effect. The strong sensitivity of N _c to LWP suggests that cloud dynamic and thermodynamic forcings drive macrophysical variability that controls N _c in southeastern tropical Pacific stratocumulus clouds. Regressions are relatively insensitive to assumptions about the covariance of errors among the sensors.

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Research Organization:: Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0006994; DE‐SC0006994

OSTI ID:: 1539728

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1437526

Journal Information:: Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, Vol. 123, Issue 10; ISSN 2169-897X

Publisher:: American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 1 work

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