Aerosols-cloud microphysics-thermodynamics-turbulence: evaluating supersaturation in a marine stratocumulus cloud
This work presents a unique combination of aerosol, cloud microphysical, thermodynamic and turbulence variables to characterize supersaturation fluctuations in a turbulent marine stratocumulus (SC) layer. The analysis is based on observations with the helicopter-borne measurement platform ACTOS and...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2012-03-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/12/2459/2012/acp-12-2459-2012.pdf |
| Summary: | This work presents a unique combination of aerosol, cloud microphysical, thermodynamic and turbulence variables to characterize supersaturation fluctuations in a turbulent marine stratocumulus (SC) layer. The analysis is based on observations with the helicopter-borne measurement platform ACTOS and a detailed cloud microphysical parcel model following three different approaches: (1) From the comparison of aerosol number size distributions inside and below the SC layer, the number of activated particles is calculated as 435&plusmn;87 cm<sup>−3</sup> and compares well with the observed median droplet number concentration of <span style="border-top: 1px solid #000; color: #000;"><i>N</i></span><sub>d</sub> = 464 cm<sup>−3</sup>. Furthermore, a 50% activation diameter of <i>D</i><sub>p50</sub>≈115 nm was derived, which was linked to a critical supersaturation <i>S</i><sub>crit</sub> of 0.16% via Köhler theory. From the shape of the fraction of activated particles, we estimated a standard deviation of supersaturation fluctuations of &sigma;<sub><i>S'</i></sub> = 0.09%. (2) These estimates are compared to more direct thermodynamic observations at cloud base. Therefore, supersaturation fluctuations (<i>S'</i>) are calculated based on highly-resolved thermodynamic data showing a standard deviation of <i>S'</i> ranging within 0.1%≤&sigma;<sub><i>S'</i></sub>≤0.3 %. (3) The sensitivity of the supersaturation on observed vertical wind velocity fluctuations is investigated with the help of a detailed cloud microphysical model. These results show highest fluctuations of <i>S'</i> with &sigma;<sub><i>S'</i></sub>=0.1% at cloud base and a decreasing &sigma;<sub><i>S'</i></sub> with increasing liquid water content and droplet number concentration. All three approaches are independent of each other and vary only within a factor of about two. |
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| ISSN: | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |