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The Impact of Aerosols on Cloud and Precipitation Processes: Cloud-resolving Model SimulationsCloud microphysics is inevitably affected by the smoke particle (CCN, cloud condensation nuclei) size distributions below the clouds. Therefore, size distributions parameterized as spectral bin microphysics are needed to explicitly study the effects of atmospheric aerosol concentration on cloud development, r d a U production, and rainfall rates for convective clouds. Recently, two detailed spectral-bin microphysical schemes were implemented into the Goddard Cumulus Ensembe1 (GCE) model. The formulation for the explicit spectral-bin microphysical processes is based on solving stochastic kinetic equations for the size distribution functions of water droplets (i.e., cloud droplets and raindrops), and several types of ice particles [i.e. pristine ice crystals (columnar and platelike), snow (dendrites and aggregates), graupel and frozen drops/hail]. Each type is described by a special size distribution function containing many categories (i.e. 33 bins). Atmospheric aerosols are also described using number density size-distribution functions. A spectral-bin microphysical model is very expensive from a computational point of view and has only been implemented into the 2D version of the GCE at the present time. The model is tested by studying the evolution of deep tropical clouds in the west Pacific warm pool region and in the mid-latitude continent with different concentrations of CCN: a low "c1ean"concentration and a high "dirty" concentration. In addition, differences and similarities between bulk microphysics and spectral-bin microphysical schemes will be examined and discussed.
Document ID
20040082183
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Tao, Wei-Kuo
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Li, X.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Khain, A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Simpson, S.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Johnson, D.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Remer, L.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2004
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Meeting Information
Meeting: 14th International Conference on Clouds and Precipitation
Location: Bologna
Country: Italy
Start Date: July 18, 2004
End Date: July 23, 2004
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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