Rain Microphysical Budget in the Tropical Deep Convective Regime: A 2-D Cloud-Resolving Modeling Study

Abstract

The rain microphysical budget associated with precipitation in the tropical deep convective regime is investigated through the analysis of grid-scale data from a 1.5-km-mesh two-dimensional cloud-resolving model simulation forced by large-scale forcing from tropical ocean global atmosphere coupled-ocean atmosphere response experiment. The rain grids are partitioned into several types based on the rain microphysical budget, and relationships between rainfall types and vertical profiles of vertical momentum, water vapor, and cloud hydrometeors are examined. Over 67% of the total rainfall is associated with the net rain source, in which the collection of cloud water by rain is greater than the melting of precipitation ice to rain in the presence of upward motions throughout the troposphere. Over 26% of the total rainfall is related to downward motions in the lower troposphere, leading to the melting of precipitation ice as a major term in the production of precipitation. About 15% of the total rainfall corresponds to dynamic hydrometeor advection only.Keywords rain microphysical budget; rainfall source and sink; rain hydrometeor change/convergence; collection of cloud water by rain; melting of precipitation ice

Diurnally Propagating Precipitation Features Caused by MCS Activities during the Pre-summer Rainy Season in South China

“…These atmospheric thermodynamics are very complex including wind shear, terrain dynamics, lift of synoptic system, surface-atmospheric radiation, and latent heat changes (Ooyama, 2001). The microphysical processes involve nucleation, phase transition and collision-coalescence growth of cloud particles, as well as deposition, riming, aggregation, melting, and evaporation of precipitation droplets (Rosenfeld et al, 2008;Li and Shen, 2013). A comprehensive understanding of the evolution and mechanisms of precipitating clouds under the combined influences of these processes is crucial for comprehending the atmospheric water cycle and global energy balance (Oki and Kanae, 2006).…”

The hydrometeor partitioning and microphysical processes over the Pacific Warm Pool in numerical modeling

“…Based on cloud budget employing a two-dimensional cloud-resolving model and simulation data during TOGA COARE, Li et al (2011) obtained net condensation and hydrometeor change/convergence. With the simulations triggered by largescale forcing data, Li and Shen (2013) examined the rain microphysical processes connected with precipitation in the tropical deep convection using a 2-D cloud model. Based on the measurements of the shape and electric charge of hydrometeors by a videosonde, Takahashi (2004) constructed a conceptual model of hydrometeor mass, number, and space charge evolution for convective clouds around Tiwi Islands.…”