Dispersion of Droplet Size Distributions in Supercooled Non‐precipitating Stratocumulus from Aircraft Observations Obtained during the Southern Ocean Cloud Radiation Aerosol Transport Experimental Study

Abstract

These low-level clouds, such as shallow boundary layer clouds (e.g., subtropical stratocumulus and trade-wind cumulus) have significant impacts on the radiation budget and climate change (Bony & Dufresne, 2005). While most past studies have focused on r e and LWC, the relative dispersion (ε), defined as the ratio of the standard deviation of the droplet size distribution (σ) to the number mean radius (r m), represents another DSD parameter which is of great importance to estimate the indirect aerosol effect on the climate system (Peng & Lohmann, 2003).

Recognition of Inter‐Cloud Versus Intra‐Cloud Controls on Droplet Dispersion With Applications to Microphysics Parameterization

“…We believe this is due to regions with high E LAF usually being associated with updrafts containing condensationally narrowed droplet distributions. Low E  being associated with updraft was also found in an observational study of Southern Ocean stratocumulus clouds, albeit only when aerosol loading is low (Wang et al, 2021), in cumulus clouds (Lu et al, 2012), and theoretically based on parcel model simulations (Chen et al, 2016). Additionally, a positive correlation between E LAF and adiabatic fraction (as a measure of the degree of mixing) suggests that turbulent mixing could promote the broadening of droplet spectra, which agrees with past modeling studies (Abade et al, 2018;Lasher-Trapp et al, 2005;Lu & Seinfeld, 2006;Noonkester, 1984).…”

“…If a E N is spatially homogeneous, then these two methods of scaling are identical. Finally, note that since high E LAF is by definition correlated with low , Wang et al (2021).…”

Observed and Simulated Variability of Droplet Spectral Dispersion in Convective Clouds Over the Amazon

“…Several observational and modeling studies suggested that the effects of aerosol loading on partially offset or enhance the aerosol second indirect effect, depending on the sign of the induced change in (e.g., Liu & Daum, 2002; M.‐L. Lu et al., 2007; G. Martin et al., 1994; Pawlowska et al., 2006; Yeom et al., 2019; Y. Wang et al., 2021). Chen et al.…”

“…In turn, these uncertainties impact the calculation of microphysical process rates and therefore the evolution of clouds in the simulations (e.g., Igel & van den Heever, 2017). For example, for a cumulus cloud simulated with bulk microphysics using a kinematic framework, Morrison and Grabowski (2007) G. Martin et al, 1994;Pawlowska et al, 2006;Yeom et al, 2019;Y. Wang et al, 2021).…”

Multi‐Source Data Based Investigation of Aerosol‐Cloud Interaction Over the North China Plain and North of the Yangtze Plain

“…A lot of evidences about the interaction between aerosols and clouds have been found through ground-based remote sensing (Garrett et al, 2004;S. Li et al, 2017;Pandithurai et al, 2009), satellite remote sensing (Costantino & Breon, 2010;Gryspeerdt & Stier, 2012), in-situ observations (Maahn et al, 2017;Y. Wang et al, 2021;Zhao et al, 2018), and model simulations (J.…”