The microphysics of the warm-rain and ice crystal processes of precipitation in simulated continental convective storms
Abstract Precipitation in clouds can form by either warm-rain or ice crystal processes, referred to as warm and cold formation pathways, respectively. Here, we investigate the warm and cold pathway contributions to surface precipitation in simulated continental convective storms. We analyze three co...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Communications Earth & Environment |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00884-5 |
| _version_ | 1797789607033569280 |
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| author | Ashok Kumar Gupta Akash Deshmukh Deepak Waman Sachin Patade Arti Jadav Vaughan T. J. Phillips Aaron Bansemer Jorge A. Martins Fabio L. T. Gonçalves |
| author_facet | Ashok Kumar Gupta Akash Deshmukh Deepak Waman Sachin Patade Arti Jadav Vaughan T. J. Phillips Aaron Bansemer Jorge A. Martins Fabio L. T. Gonçalves |
| author_sort | Ashok Kumar Gupta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Precipitation in clouds can form by either warm-rain or ice crystal processes, referred to as warm and cold formation pathways, respectively. Here, we investigate the warm and cold pathway contributions to surface precipitation in simulated continental convective storms. We analyze three contrasting convective storms that are cold-based, slightly warm-based and very warm-based. We apply tracer-tagging techniques in our aerosol-cloud model to determine simulated microphysical pathways that lead to precipitation. We find cold components of graupel and rain mass were higher than warm components in cold- and slightly warm-based clouds. By contrast, in very warm-based clouds nearly 80% of surface precipitation was formed via warm-rain processes. Lowering of cloud base altitude to levels about 10–20 K warmer switched surface precipitation to being mostly warm, due to enhanced moisture content in the planetary boundary layer and larger cloud droplets aloft intensifying raindrop freezing. Our simulations indicate that warm and cold processes co-exist in any storm and the balance between them is determined by cloud base temperature and solute aerosol conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:53:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fa28cf31ce6544c19c111b8c8136e960 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2662-4435 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:53:05Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Earth & Environment |
| spelling | doaj.art-fa28cf31ce6544c19c111b8c8136e9602023-07-02T11:27:38ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352023-06-014111510.1038/s43247-023-00884-5The microphysics of the warm-rain and ice crystal processes of precipitation in simulated continental convective stormsAshok Kumar Gupta0Akash Deshmukh1Deepak Waman2Sachin Patade3Arti Jadav4Vaughan T. J. Phillips5Aaron Bansemer6Jorge A. Martins7Fabio L. T. Gonçalves8Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, University of LundDepartment of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, University of LundDepartment of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, University of LundDepartment of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, University of LundDepartment of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, University of LundDepartment of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, University of Lund Mesoscale and Microscale Meteorology Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric ResearchDepartment of Physics, Federal University of TechnologyInstitute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Sao PauloAbstract Precipitation in clouds can form by either warm-rain or ice crystal processes, referred to as warm and cold formation pathways, respectively. Here, we investigate the warm and cold pathway contributions to surface precipitation in simulated continental convective storms. We analyze three contrasting convective storms that are cold-based, slightly warm-based and very warm-based. We apply tracer-tagging techniques in our aerosol-cloud model to determine simulated microphysical pathways that lead to precipitation. We find cold components of graupel and rain mass were higher than warm components in cold- and slightly warm-based clouds. By contrast, in very warm-based clouds nearly 80% of surface precipitation was formed via warm-rain processes. Lowering of cloud base altitude to levels about 10–20 K warmer switched surface precipitation to being mostly warm, due to enhanced moisture content in the planetary boundary layer and larger cloud droplets aloft intensifying raindrop freezing. Our simulations indicate that warm and cold processes co-exist in any storm and the balance between them is determined by cloud base temperature and solute aerosol conditions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00884-5 |
| spellingShingle | Ashok Kumar Gupta Akash Deshmukh Deepak Waman Sachin Patade Arti Jadav Vaughan T. J. Phillips Aaron Bansemer Jorge A. Martins Fabio L. T. Gonçalves The microphysics of the warm-rain and ice crystal processes of precipitation in simulated continental convective storms Communications Earth & Environment |
| title | The microphysics of the warm-rain and ice crystal processes of precipitation in simulated continental convective storms |
| title_full | The microphysics of the warm-rain and ice crystal processes of precipitation in simulated continental convective storms |
| title_fullStr | The microphysics of the warm-rain and ice crystal processes of precipitation in simulated continental convective storms |
| title_full_unstemmed | The microphysics of the warm-rain and ice crystal processes of precipitation in simulated continental convective storms |
| title_short | The microphysics of the warm-rain and ice crystal processes of precipitation in simulated continental convective storms |
| title_sort | microphysics of the warm rain and ice crystal processes of precipitation in simulated continental convective storms |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00884-5 |
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