Physics
Scientific paper
Jul 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009georl..3613803s&link_type=abstract
Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 36, Issue 13, CiteID L13803
Physics
14
Atmospheric Processes: Clouds And Aerosols, Atmospheric Processes: Precipitation (1854), Atmospheric Composition And Structure: Cloud Physics And Chemistry, Atmospheric Composition And Structure: Aerosols And Particles (0345, 4801, 4906)
Scientific paper
Atmospheric aerosol particles act as cloud condensation nuclei, affording them the ability to influence cloud microphysics, planetary albedo, and precipitation. Models of varying complexity and satellite observations from NASA's A-Train constellation of satellites are used to determine what controls the precipitation susceptibility of warm clouds to aerosol perturbations. Three susceptibility regimes are identified: (i) clouds with low liquid water path (LWP) generate very little rain and are least susceptible to aerosol; (ii) clouds with intermediate LWP where aerosol most effectively suppress precipitation; and (iii) clouds with high LWP, where the susceptibility begins to decrease because the precipitation process is efficient owing to abundant liquid water. Remarkable qualitative agreement between remote sensing observations and model predictions provides the first suggestions that certain regions of the Earth might be more vulnerable to pollution aerosol. Targeted pollution control strategies in such regions would most benefit water availability via precipitation.
Feingold Graham
Jiang Hongli
Lebsock Matthew D.
Sorooshian Armin
Stephens Graeme L.
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