Numerical Experiments on the Relation between Microphysics and Dynamics in Cumulus Convection

Abstract

A previous numerical model of cumulus growth that treated condensation but not precipitation is modified by the addition of a parameterized treatment of liquid-phase microphysics. This modification improves the realism of the results for several parameters, including maximum height of cloud growth, maximum liquid content, amount and distribution of temperature departure, cloud shape, and occurrence and strength of subcloud down-draft. It is found that one of the most important controlling features in cloud growth is the rate of evaporation of droplets. In particular, the introduction of a class of large particles with a relatively slow evaporation rate produces a smaller temperature deficit at the cloud summit, hence more vigorous cloud growth.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1971
Accession Number
AD0733670

Entities

People

  • F. W. Murray
  • L. R. Koenig

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Masses
  • Altitude
  • Boundaries
  • Clouds
  • Coefficients
  • Condensation
  • Convection
  • Diffusion Coefficient
  • Drops
  • Energy
  • Equations
  • Heat Energy
  • Heat Of Vaporization
  • Latent Heat
  • Spatial Distribution
  • Two Dimensional
  • Water Vapor

Readers

  • Atmospheric Remote Sensing.
  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • Materials Science (Mechanical Engineering).