Modeling Marine Stratocumulus with a Detailed Microphysical Scheme

A one-dimensional 3rd-order turbulence closure model with size-resolved microphysics and radiative transfer has been developed for investigating aerosol and cloud interactions of the stratocumulus-topped marine boundary layer. A new method is presented for coupling between the dynamical model and the mierophysical model. This scheme allows the liquid water related correlations to be directly calculated rather than parameterized. On 21 April 2001, a marine stratocumulus was observed by the Caesar aircraft over the west Pacific Rim south of Japan during the 2001 APEX/ACE-Asia field measurements. This cloud is simulated by the model we present here. The model results show that the general features of the stratocumulus-topped marine boundary layer predicted by the model are in agreement with the measurements. A new onboard cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) counter provides not only total CCN number concentration (as the traditional CCN counters do at a certain supersaturation) but also the CCN size distribution information. Using these CCN data, model responses to different CCN initial concentrations are examined. The model results are consistent with both observations and expectations.The numerical results show that the cloud microphysieal properties are changed fundamentally by different initial CCN concentrations but the cloud liquid water content does not differ significantly. Different initial CCN loadings have large impacts on the evolution of cloud microstructure and radiation transfer while they have a modest effect on thermodynamics. Increased CCN concentration leads to significant decrease of cloud effective radius.     

Cloud condensation nuclei and cloud droplet measurements during ACE‐2

During the 2nd Aerosol Characterization Experiment (ACE‐2), relationships between stratocumulus cloud properties and aerosols were examined. Here, the relevant measurements including the cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activation spectrum, updraft velocity, cloud microphysical and aerosol properties are presented. It is shown that calculations of droplet concentration based on updraft velocity and the CCN activation spectrum are consistent with direct observations. Also discussed is an apparent disparity among measurements of the CCN activation spectrum, the accumulation mode size distribution, and the composition of the submicrometric aerosol. The observed consistency between CCN, updraft and cloud droplets is a necessary refinement; however, extended analyses of the ACE‐2 data set are needed to guide improvements in model simulations of the interaction between aerosols and cloud microphysics. In particular, there is need for an examination of aerosol size spectra and chemical composition measurements with a view towards validating droplet activation schemes which relate the aerosol and cloud dynamical properties to cloud albedo.     

层积云覆盖的海洋边界层云详细微物理过程的数值模拟

文中建立了一个含显式分档的云微物理模式和辐射传输模式的一维 3阶湍流闭合模式 ,该模式可用于研究海洋边界层云中气溶胶和云的相互作用过程 ,同时提出了一种新的动力模式和微物理模式耦合方法 ,该方法可使动力模式中液态水相关项可以直接由微物理模式变量计算得到。作为模式的初步应用模拟了 2 0 0 1年APEX/ACE Asia在西太平洋上所观测到的一个个例。模拟结果和观测资料比较表明该模式基本上模拟出层积云覆盖的海洋边界层的基本结构     

海洋层积云中的云滴谱宽度及其影响因子

云滴谱宽度对模式中云的光学厚度的参数化、气溶胶间接效应的评估以及降水形成过程的研究至关重要。本文利用美国POST（Physics of Stratocumulus Top）项目2008年7月19日的飞机观测资料，分析了微物理量和云滴谱的垂直分布及微物理过程。结果表明，该云系云滴谱宽度在云底附近较大，这是由低层核化过程导致的；中层凝结增长过程使得云滴谱宽度随高度增加逐渐减小；云顶附近夹卷混合过程导致云滴谱宽度增大。绝热云中垂直速度的增大会促进云凝结核的活化使云滴数浓度增大，促进凝结增长使云滴尺度增大、云滴谱宽度减小，云滴谱宽度与云滴数浓度、云滴尺度呈现负相关关系；云洞中受夹卷混合过程影响，垂直速度减小，云滴蒸发，云滴数浓度和云滴尺度减小、云滴谱宽度增大，且该效应随绝热程度减小而增强。建议云滴谱宽度的参数化将垂直速度、云滴数浓度、云滴尺度和绝热程度等考虑在内。     

Microphysical and chemical characteristics of cloud droplet residuals and interstitial particles in continental stratocumulus clouds

During June and July 2003 the Sources and Origins of Atmospheric Cloud Droplets experiment (SOACED) was carried out on a mountain-top site in central Sweden. The main objective of the experiment was to characterise the microphysical and chemical properties of cloud droplet residuals and interstitial aerosol particles in continental clouds and to understand the processes controlling cloud properties at this location.Interstitial and residual aerosol size distributions, cloud liquid water content and species- and size-resolved aerosol mass concentrations are the main variables employed to address questions pertaining to the cloud droplet number concentration and scavenging efficiency during a stratocumulus cloud event observed on July 28, 2003. In this cloud event, about 56% of the aerosol mass was associated with organic species, whilst SO₄ accounted for 23% and NH₄ for 14%. NO₃ and Cl made up about 7% of the total mass.The partitioning of the aerosol particles between cloud droplets and interstitial air has been studied in terms of their microphysical properties. The scavenging efficiency, defined as the fraction of particles activated into cloud elements compared to the total amount of particles, was investigated as a function of size. The scavenging efficiency curves displayed different shapes during the cloud event, from an S-shaped curve, with low scavenging efficiency in the Aitken mode and larger scavenging efficiency in the accumulation mode, to more unusual shapes where Aitken-mode particles were either solely activated or activated in addition to accumulation-mode particles.This study suggests that alterations of the aerosol chemical composition occurred during the measurement period, changing the hygroscopic nature of the CCN and decreasing their activation diameter. It is also hypothesized that entrainment of drier air aloft may have introduced inhomogeneities in the supersaturation field and modified the S-shaped scavenging curves.     

Microphysical and chemical characteristics of cloud droplet residuals and interstitial particles in continental stratocumulus clouds

During June and July 2003 the Sources and Origins of Atmospheric Cloud Droplets experiment (SOACED) was carried out on a mountain-top site in central Sweden. The main objective of the experiment was to characterise the microphysical and chemical properties of cloud droplet residuals and interstitial aerosol particles in continental clouds and to understand the processes controlling cloud properties at this location.Interstitial and residual aerosol size distributions, cloud liquid water content and species- and size-resolved aerosol mass concentrations are the main variables employed to address questions pertaining to the cloud droplet number concentration and scavenging efficiency during a stratocumulus cloud event observed on July 28, 2003. In this cloud event, about 56% of the aerosol mass was associated with organic species, whilst SO₄ accounted for 23% and NH₄ for 14%. NO₃ and Cl made up about 7% of the total mass.The partitioning of the aerosol particles between cloud droplets and interstitial air has been studied in terms of their microphysical properties. The scavenging efficiency, defined as the fraction of particles activated into cloud elements compared to the total amount of particles, was investigated as a function of size. The scavenging efficiency curves displayed different shapes during the cloud event, from an S-shaped curve, with low scavenging efficiency in the Aitken mode and larger scavenging efficiency in the accumulation mode, to more unusual shapes where Aitken-mode particles were either solely activated or activated in addition to accumulation-mode particles.This study suggests that alterations of the aerosol chemical composition occurred during the measurement period, changing the hygroscopic nature of the CCN and decreasing their activation diameter. It is also hypothesized that entrainment of drier air aloft may have introduced inhomogeneities in the supersaturation field and modified the S-shaped scavenging curves.     

山西云微物理特征的地面观测

利用连续气流纵向热梯度云凝结核仪和激光降水粒子谱测量仪对山西地面的云凝结核和雨滴谱进行了观测研究.研究结果表明,云凝结核(CCN)数浓度具有明显的日变化特征,1天出现了两次峰值,数浓度日变化与气象因子、人类活动有关.降水对CCN具有冲刷作用.利用关系式NCCN=CSk拟合得到的地面CCN活化谱参数C值明显较大,k值较高,属于典型的大陆型核谱.对层状云、层积云降水雨滴微物理特征参量分析发现:3次层状云、层积云降水雨滴数密度变化范围分别为74～229 m-3、305～743 m-3,平均含水量量级分别为10-2 g/m3、10-1g/m3,最大雨滴直径分别为1.78 mm、4.7 mm.对层状云降水雨滴的数密度和雨强贡献较大的分别是小于1 mm、0.2～2 mm的雨滴;对层积云降水雨滴的数密度和雨强贡献较大的分别是0.2～2 mm、1～3 mm的雨滴.层积云出现稳定谱的比例高于层状云.从瞬时谱型分布看,层状云出现单、双、三峰多,第四、五峰值的频率比较少,层积云雨滴谱分布没有出现指数型,常有多峰.从平均谱分布看,层状云谱宽窄于层积云,层状云雨滴平均谱服从指数分布,层积云曲线呈向下弯曲的趋势.对汾阳2008年7月17日一次积层混合云降水雨滴谱资料分析发现积层混合云降水雨滴微物理量起伏大,降水雨强主要由雨滴数密度决定.相同雨强下,若有相对更多的大雨滴,雷达反射率会更大一些.随着强回波云块的过境,雨滴数浓度、雨滴谱峰值个数、谱宽均明显增大.     

华北中部夏季气溶胶垂直分布及其与云凝结核和云滴转化关系的飞机观测研究

气溶胶的时空分布及其核化成云的转化过程是云降水物理研究的重点,也是气候变化中气溶胶间接效应关注的热点问题。利用2013～2014年期间在华北中部山西地区开展的9架次夏季晴天和积云天气情况下的气溶胶、云凝结核（CCN）及云滴数浓度观测资料,分析研究了气溶胶的垂直分布、谱分布、来源特征及其与云凝结核、云滴数浓度的转化关系。研究结果表明,大气边界层逆温层结对气溶胶、CCN垂直分布有重要影响,不同天气条件下气溶胶谱型在低层差异较大而高层基本一致;垂直方向上CCN数浓度与气溶胶数浓度有较好的相关性,过饱和度0.3%条件下CCN比率（云凝结核/凝结核）与气溶胶有效直径呈线性关系;积云云下气溶胶与云滴的线性拟合方程为y=1.3x?616.3,拟合相关系数为0.96,气溶胶转化为云滴的比率可达到47%。在过饱和度0.3%条件下,云下CCN与云滴的线性拟合方程为y=1.6x?473.8,拟合相关系数也为0.96,CCN转化为云滴的比率可达到69%。     

Enhanced aerosol-cloud relationships in more stable and adiabatic clouds

Modification of cloud microphysics and cloud albedo by cloud-active aerosol is generally identified and accepted, but the nature and magnitude of aerosol-cloud interactions are vaguely understood and thought to include a myriad of processes that vary regionally and confound the application of simple physical models of cloud-aerosol sensitivity. This paper presents observations demonstrating that cloud top stability through its regulation of mixing and vertical development is one of the critical mechanisms that regulate cloud response to cloud-active aerosol in some cloud systems. Strong above-cloud inversions are shown to buffer marine stratocumulus from the effects of mixing with drier, warmer inversion air. This buffering reduces the variability of the cloud liquid water path (LWP) and enables the clouds to remain nearly adiabatic. While weaker above-cloud inversions in continental stratocumulus promote variability in the LWP and sub-adiabatic LWPs, stronger inversions in marine stratocumulus enables a relatively adiabatic existence that increases the relationship of cloud microphysical alteration to cloud-active aerosol. This study has important implications for Geoengineering in that it demonstrates that cloud systems overlain by strong thermal inversions are more likely to respond predictably to intentional manipulation of the in-cloud concentration of cloud-active aerosol.     

积层混合云结构和云微物理的数值模拟

对三维非静力中尺度模式ARPS的云微物理方案进行了改进,利用改进后的模式模拟了华北地区的积层混合云降水个例,通过对模拟结果的分析并结合实况资料研究了积层混合云的降水特征、云物理结构特征和微物理过程。结果表明,积层混合云降水分布不均匀,雨区中存在多个强降水中心,云系中微物理量在水平和垂直方向上分布都不均匀,积云中的垂直液态水积分含量大大高于层云中含量,此次降水冰相过程占主导地位,霰的融化是最主要的雨生成项。     

华北地区一次气溶胶与浅积云微物理特性的飞机观测研究

2014年8月15日,山西省人工降雨防雹办公室在山西忻州开展了气溶胶和浅积云的飞机观测,本文利用机载云物理资料,详细分析了华北地区气溶胶、云凝结核（CCN）和浅积云微物理特性及其相互影响。主要结论有:（1）此次过程的边界层高度约为3600 m,不同层结情况下,0.1～3 μm尺度范围内的气溶胶粒子浓度N_a、有效直径D_a和CCN数浓度的垂直廓线明显不同,近地面N_a可达2500 cm?3。（2）CCN的主要来源为积聚模态、爱根模态或者核模态的气溶胶颗粒,0.2%过饱和度下,气溶胶活化率（AR）在各高度层的结果变化不大;0.4%过饱和度下,AR随着高度增加而降低。（3）后向轨迹模式分析表明,2 km以下的气溶胶主要来自于当地城市排放,由细颗粒污染物组成;2 km以上的气溶胶主要来源于中国西北和蒙古地区的沙漠,由亚微米沙尘组成,溶解度相对较低,可作为潜在的冰核。（4）本文细致分析了两块相邻浅积云（Cu-1和Cu-2）的云物理特性。Cu-1云底高度约4500 m,云厚约600 m,云体松散,夹卷较多;云中液态含水量（LWC）基本保持在0.5 g m?3,云粒子浓度N_c平均值为278.3 cm?3,云滴有效直径D_c整体在15 μm以内;毛毛雨滴粒子浓度最大值为0.002 cm?3,云中几乎无降水粒子;粒子谱宽随着高度增加而增大,主要集中在30 μm以内。Cu-2云底高度约3900 m,云厚约1200 m,云体密实;云中过冷水丰沛,LWC有多个超过1 g m?3的区域,云顶附近出现冰晶,云中粒子从凝结增长状态直接进入到混合相态;积云内部粒子水平分布不均,同一高度N_c相差较大,最大可达1240 cm?3。D_c随着高度增加而增大;粒子谱宽随着高度增加而拓展,最大可达1100 μm,谱型由单峰向多峰转变;降水粒子和冰晶图像大多为霰粒子、针状和板状。     

气溶胶影响云和降水的机理和观测研究进展

气溶胶对云和降水的影响,对于气候系统、大气环境以及水循环至关重要。气溶胶粒子作为云凝结核和大气冰核影响云的微物理过程,进而影响雨、雪、雹和其他形式的降水。近年来,在理解气溶胶的化学成分,气溶胶微物理特性以及气溶胶作为云凝结核和大气冰核影响云降水等方面已取得重大进展。本文对于气溶胶的概念、来源以及气溶胶的直接和间接效应进行了简要概述,重点总结了国内外在气溶胶影响云和降水的机理研究方面的成果,回顾了近年来利用卫星、地面观测设备、机载探测设备等对气溶胶和云进行遥感观测和直接观测所获得的观测事实并讨论了其可能的物理机制,在总结前人研究成果的基础上对未来的研究方向进行了讨论。     

Microphysics of clouds at Kleiner Feldberg

During a field measuring campaign at Kleiner Feldberg (Taunus) in 1990, microphysical characteristics of clouds have been measured by Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probes (FSSP). The aim was to study the influence of aerosol and meteorological factors on droplet size and number. The results are: More mass in the accumulation size range of the aerosol leads to more droplets in stratocumulus clouds and to higher soluble masses in droplets of stratus clouds. However, the aerosol distribution was coarser in the stratus clouds compared to the stratocumulus clouds. Within the first 200 m from cloud base, the droplets grow while their number decreases. The growth results in a stable size of about 14 µm diameter over a large distance from cloud base in many stratocumulus clouds. Two types of mixing processes were observed: processes with reductions in the number of droplets (inhomogeneous mixing) and with reductions in the size of the droplets (homogeneous mixing).     

我国云降水物理飞机观测研究进展

飞机观测是云中粒子相态、分布和转化特征的重要探测技术。我国云降水物理飞机观测开始于20世纪60年代,经过60多年的发展,在飞机平台、机载测量技术、云微物理结构和降水形成机制认识等方面均取得了长足进步。发现积层混合云中对流泡区具有更高的过冷水含量,凇附增长起重要作用,符合“播撒-供给”降水形成机制,而在层云区,当云厚度较小时,过冷水含量很少,冰雪晶的凝华、聚并增长起主导作用,并不符合“播撒-供给”降水形成机制,而当云厚度较大时,过冷水含量较为丰富,凝华、聚并和凇附增长起主导作用,基本符合“播撒-供给”降水形成机制;我国北方冬季降雪过程的形成机制主要是凝华-聚并机制,只有在水汽非常充足、云较厚的情况下,凇附增长过程才具有重要作用。近年虽然在人工影响天气播撒效应、数值模式云物理过程验证、卫星及雷达遥感数据检验、对流云结构观测等方面也取得了一些进展,但仍较薄弱,亟待加强。     

Numerical Simulation of Macro- and Micro-structures of Intense Convective Clouds with a Spectral Bin Microphysics Model

By use of a three-dimensional compressible non-hydrostatic convective cloud model with detailed microphysics featuring spectral bins of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), liquid droplets, ice crystals, snow and graupel particles, the spatial and temporal distributions of hydrometeors in a supercell observed by the (Severe Thunderstorm Electrification and Precipitation Study) STEPS triple-radar network are simulated and analyzed. The bin model is also employed to study the effect of CCN concentration on the evolution characteristics of the supercell. It is found that the CCN concentration not only affects the concentration and spectral distribution of water droplets, but also influences the characteristics of ice crystals and graupel particles. With a larger number of CCN, more water droplets and ice crystals are produced and the growth of graupel is restrained. With a small quantity of CCN the production of large size water droplets are promoted by initially small concentrations of water droplets and ice crystals, leading to earlier formation of small size graupel and restraining the recycling growth of graupel, and thus inhibiting the formation of large size graupel (or small size hail). It can be concluded that both the macroscopic airflow and microphysical processes influence the formation and growth of large size graupel (or small size hail). In regions with heavy pollution, a high concentration of CCN may restrain the formation of graupel and hail, and in extremely clean regions, excessively low concentrations of CCN may also limit the formation of large size graupel (hail).     

海盐气溶胶和硫酸盐气溶胶在云微物理过程中的作用

利用大气气溶胶和云分档模式研究海盐气溶胶和硫酸盐气溶胶在云微物理过程中的作用, 计算结果表明:云中液态水含量随高度的分布并不随海盐、硫酸盐的数目以及云团上升速度的变化而变化; 随着云滴数目的增加, 云滴的有效半径会减小; 硫酸盐对云滴数目影响起主导作用, 海盐在水汽相对充足情况下增加了云滴数目, 在水汽相对不足的情况下减少了云滴数目; 硫酸盐粒子浓度特别强的情况下 (人类活动污染比较严重时), 如果水汽相对不足, 云滴数目会明显小于硫酸盐粒子浓度; 而海盐粒子的存在, 加剧了水汽的供应不足, 从而可以在很大程度上进一步降低云滴数目。也就是说, 在有些情况下, 如果不考虑海盐气溶胶的作用, 硫酸盐气溶胶对云特性的影响会被过高估计。     

A modelling study of aerosol processing by stratocumulus clouds and its impact on general circulation model parameterisations of cloud and aerosol

A model of the aqueous phase processing of an aerosol population undergoing multiple cycling through a stratocumulus (Sc) cloud layer is presented. Results indicate that a significant modification of the aerosol properties is achieved following the first cycle through cloud. In a polluted atmosphere, further modification in subsequent cycles is seen to be hydrogen peroxide limited unless there is a flux of ammonia entering the system through cloud base (CB). The modification of the aerosol population is seen to have little effect on the microphysics (specifically the cloud droplet concentration and effective radius) of the processing cloud. However, it enables processed aerosols to subsequently act as efficient cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) in less vigorous clouds (as a result of reducing the critical supersaturation required to activate them). The effects of variations in the internal mixture of soluble components of aerosols on the microphysics of clouds forming on them are also investigated using the cloud model. A (K2) parameterisation of the effects of variations in internally mixed nitrate loadings on the cloud droplet number concentration is presented. The effects of applying this K2 correction to the droplet number (derived from a parameterisation based on sulphate) for the presence of nitrate in aerosol have been investigated using the HadAM3 version of the Hadley Centre General Circulation Model (GCM). The effect on global annual mean simulations of the indirect forcing and effective radius is small, but more pronounced regionally. Suggestions (based on model results and observations) for parameterising the size distribution and in-cloud growth of aerosols for use in GCMs are presented.     

Aerosol Microphysical and Radiative Effects on Continental Cloud Ensembles

Aerosol–cloud–radiation interactions represent one of the largest uncertainties in the current climate assessment. Much of the complexity arises from the non-monotonic responses of clouds, precipitation and radiative fluxes to aerosol perturbations under various meteorological conditions. In this study, an aerosol-aware WRF model is used to investigate the microphysical and radiative effects of aerosols in three weather systems during the March 2000 Cloud Intensive Observational Period campaign at the US Southern Great Plains. Three simulated cloud ensembles include a low-pressure deep convective cloud system, a collection of less-precipitating stratus and shallow cumulus, and a cold frontal passage. The WRF simulations are evaluated by several ground-based measurements. The microphysical properties of cloud hydrometeors, such as their mass and number concentrations, generally show monotonic trends as a function of cloud condensation nuclei concentrations.Aerosol radiative effects do not influence the trends of cloud microphysics, except for the stratus and shallow cumulus cases where aerosol semi-direct effects are identified. The precipitation changes by aerosols vary with the cloud types and their evolving stages, with a prominent aerosol invigoration effect and associated enhanced precipitation from the convective sources. The simulated aerosol direct effect suppresses precipitation in all three cases but does not overturn the aerosol indirect effect. Cloud fraction exhibits much smaller sensitivity(typically less than 2%) to aerosol perturbations, and the responses vary with aerosol concentrations and cloud regimes. The surface shortwave radiation shows a monotonic decrease by increasing aerosols, while the magnitude of the decrease depends on the cloud type.     

夏季硫酸盐和黑碳气溶胶对中国云特性的影响

利用WRF-Chem（Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry）模式研究2006年8月1日—9月1日中国区域硫酸盐和黑碳气溶胶对云特性的影响。模式验证利用了卫星和地面观测的气象要素、化学物质浓度、气溶胶光学特性和云微物理特性。模式性能评估表明该模式能较好地抓住气象要素（温度、降水、相对湿度和风速）的量级和空间分布特征。通过与地面观测和MODIS卫星数据对比发现,尽管模式模拟还存在偏差,但还是能较好模拟出气溶胶物种的地表浓度、气溶胶光学厚度（AOD）、云光学厚度（COD）、云量（CLDF）、云顶云滴有效半径（CER）和云水路径（LWP）。通过两个敏感性试验（分别增加二氧化硫和黑碳排放量至控制试验排放的3倍）与控制试验的对比发现硫酸盐比黑碳更易成为云凝结核,在中国东部云顶云滴数浓度和其它云特性参数对二氧化硫排放增加的响应均从北向南呈递增,这与地面湿度分布有关。云滴有效半径对硫酸盐气溶胶的响应符合气溶胶第一间接效应的定义,即硫酸盐气溶胶增多,云滴数浓度增加,云滴有效半径减少,但是对黑碳气溶胶的响应在各区域不尽相同。还发现黑碳对云量的影响远大于硫酸盐,主要原因是由于黑碳气溶胶直接辐射效应（对太阳光的吸收）导致的云的“燃烧”作用。      

山西夏季层积云降水微物理特征分析

利用Droplet Measureinent TeehnologY（DMT）资料,分析了山西2008年7月17日降水性层积云的云微物理结构,通过对云中粒子浓度、直径、二维图像以及谱型分布变化,并结合宏观记录特征,详细分析了飞机上升和下降阶段云系的垂直结构特征。结果表明：飞机上升阶段云系为高积云,飞机下降阶段云系为高积云一层积云结构,Cloud Droplet Probe（CDP）和Cloud Imaging Probe（CIP）测得粒子浓度偏大,最大浓度分别为236em。和9．74cm^-3。层积云云中微物理量水平分布特征具有明显的不均匀性。上升阶段降水的雨滴主要是冰粒子融化形成的,冷云过程占主导地位,在0℃层附近存在明显的融化层亮带。下降阶段降水机制为高积云冷云过程和层积云暖云过程相结合。