THE DYNAMICS OF CUMULUS CONVECTION IN THE TRADES-A COMBINED OBSERVATIONAL AND THEORETICAL STUDY.
Abstract
The development and calibration of an aircraft instrument for measuring cloud liquid water and volume median drop diameter is described. A hot-wire loop is sensitive to drops smaller than 100 microns. A wire wound around a ceramic cone is sensitive to larger drops. A comparative study of the 'bubble' with the 'steady state jet' model is made and related to tank experiments. A relation of mixing parameters to eddy coefficients is demonstrated. The 'bubble' model is extended to cumulus convection. Formulae for the behavior of average 'bubble' potential temperature, liquid water, and vertical velocity as a function of height are derived. The effects of drop growth by condensation and coalescence and of precipitation are lumped together. A study of cumulus cloud observations is made to compare model computations with observations. Emphasis is placed on the usefulness of the model in parameterizing the statistical properties of clouds. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 02, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0621935
Entities
People
- Joseph Levine
Organizations
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution