Cloud microphysical response to entrainment of dry air containing aerosols

Abstract

Abstract Impacts of aerosol particles on clouds, precipitation, and climate remain one of the significant uncertainties in climate change. Aerosol particles entrained at cloud top and edge can affect cloud microphysical and macrophysical properties, but the process is still poorly understood. Here we investigate the cloud microphysical responses to the entrainment of aerosol-laden air in the Pi convection-cloud chamber. Results show that cloud droplet number concentration increases and mean radius of droplets decreases, which leads to narrower droplet size distribution and smaller relative dispersion. These behaviors are generally consistent with the scenario expected from the first aerosol-cloud indirect effect for a constant liquid water content (L). However, L increases significantly in these experiments. Such enhancement of L can be understood as suppression of droplet sedimentation removal due to small droplets. Further, an increase in aerosol concentration from entrainment reduces the effective radius and ultimately increases cloud optical thickness and cloud albedo, making the clouds brighter. These findings are of relevance to the entrainment interface at stratocumulus cloud top, where modeling studies have suggested sedimentation plays a strong role in regulating L. Therefore, the results provide insights into the impacts of entrainment of aerosol-laden air on cloud, precipitation, and climate.