The role of ice nuclei recycling in the maintenance of cloud ice in Arctic mixed-phase stratocumulus

This study investigates the maintenance of cloud ice production in Arctic mixed-phase stratocumulus in large eddy simulations that include a prognostic ice nuclei (IN) formulation and a diurnal cycle. Balances derived from a mixed-layer model and phase analyses are used to provide insight into buffe...

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Main Authors: A. Solomon, G. Feingold, M. D. Shupe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2015-09-01
Series:Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Online Access:http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/15/10631/2015/acp-15-10631-2015.pdf
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author A. Solomon
G. Feingold
M. D. Shupe
author_facet A. Solomon
G. Feingold
M. D. Shupe
author_sort A. Solomon
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the maintenance of cloud ice production in Arctic mixed-phase stratocumulus in large eddy simulations that include a prognostic ice nuclei (IN) formulation and a diurnal cycle. Balances derived from a mixed-layer model and phase analyses are used to provide insight into buffering mechanisms that maintain ice in these cloud systems. We find that, for the case under investigation, IN recycling through subcloud sublimation considerably prolongs ice production over a multi-day integration. This effective source of IN to the cloud dominates over mixing sources from above or below the cloud-driven mixed layer. Competing feedbacks between dynamical mixing and recycling are found to slow the rate of ice lost from the mixed layer when a diurnal cycle is simulated. The results of this study have important implications for maintaining phase partitioning of cloud ice and liquid that determine the radiative forcing of Arctic mixed-phase clouds.
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spelling doaj.art-a80dc4c7427d480f9ec3e03f672d92182022-12-22T03:22:18ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242015-09-011518106311064310.5194/acp-15-10631-2015The role of ice nuclei recycling in the maintenance of cloud ice in Arctic mixed-phase stratocumulusA. Solomon0G. Feingold1M. D. Shupe2Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USAEarth System Research Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, Colorado, USACooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USAThis study investigates the maintenance of cloud ice production in Arctic mixed-phase stratocumulus in large eddy simulations that include a prognostic ice nuclei (IN) formulation and a diurnal cycle. Balances derived from a mixed-layer model and phase analyses are used to provide insight into buffering mechanisms that maintain ice in these cloud systems. We find that, for the case under investigation, IN recycling through subcloud sublimation considerably prolongs ice production over a multi-day integration. This effective source of IN to the cloud dominates over mixing sources from above or below the cloud-driven mixed layer. Competing feedbacks between dynamical mixing and recycling are found to slow the rate of ice lost from the mixed layer when a diurnal cycle is simulated. The results of this study have important implications for maintaining phase partitioning of cloud ice and liquid that determine the radiative forcing of Arctic mixed-phase clouds.http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/15/10631/2015/acp-15-10631-2015.pdf
spellingShingle A. Solomon
G. Feingold
M. D. Shupe
The role of ice nuclei recycling in the maintenance of cloud ice in Arctic mixed-phase stratocumulus
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
title The role of ice nuclei recycling in the maintenance of cloud ice in Arctic mixed-phase stratocumulus
title_full The role of ice nuclei recycling in the maintenance of cloud ice in Arctic mixed-phase stratocumulus
title_fullStr The role of ice nuclei recycling in the maintenance of cloud ice in Arctic mixed-phase stratocumulus
title_full_unstemmed The role of ice nuclei recycling in the maintenance of cloud ice in Arctic mixed-phase stratocumulus
title_short The role of ice nuclei recycling in the maintenance of cloud ice in Arctic mixed-phase stratocumulus
title_sort role of ice nuclei recycling in the maintenance of cloud ice in arctic mixed phase stratocumulus
url http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/15/10631/2015/acp-15-10631-2015.pdf
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