Calculation of supersaturation maximum and droplet concentration at cloud boundaries

Mark Pinsky, Alexander Khain*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Most parameterizations of droplet concentration at cloud base in cloud models are derived under the assumption that all droplets at the cloud base form by nucleation of dry CCN crossing the lifting condensation level in updraft. In this study, a novel method of calculation of the supersaturation maximum and droplet concentration at cloud base is described that takes into account the existence of liquid at the level of droplet nucleation. Liquid exists in haze particles, as well as in the form of cloud droplets and raindrops. It is shown that the presence of liquid water inside non-activated CCN, as well as of cloud droplets and raindrops substantially decreases supersaturation maximum in case of high aerosol concentration. The possible effect of the supersaturation maximum decrease on formation of DSD in clouds is discussed. The method can be also applied to calculation of supersaturation and droplet nucleation at cloud edges.

Original languageEnglish
Article number104694
JournalAtmospheric Research
Volume234
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019

Keywords

  • Cloud base supersaturation maximum
  • Droplet concentration
  • Nucleation

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