https://www.researchgate.net/publication/367410630_Microphysical_macrophysical_and_radiative_responses_of_subtropical_marine_clouds_to_aerosol_injections


*Authors*
Je-Yun Chun, Robert Wood, Peter Blossey and Sarah J. Doherty

*25 January 2023*

*Citation*: Chun, J. Y., Wood, R., Blossey, P., & Doherty, S. J. (2022).
Microphysical, macrophysical and radiative responses of subtropical marine
clouds to aerosol injections. *Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Discussions*, 1-38.

*Abstract*
Ship tracks in subtropical marine low clouds are simulated and investigated
using large-eddy simulations. Five variants of a shallow subtropical
stratocumulus-topped marine boundary layer (MBL) are chosen to span a range
of background aerosol concentrations and variations in free-tropospheric
moisture. Idealized time-invariant meteorological forcings and
approximately steady-state aerosol concentrations constitute the background
conditions. We investigate processes controlling cloud microphysical,
macrophysical, and radiative responses to aerosol injections. For the
analysis, we use novel methods to decompose the liquid water path (LWP)
adjustment into changes in cloud and boundary-layer properties and to
decompose the cloud radiative effect (CRE) into contributions from cloud
macro- and microphysics. The key results are that (a) the cloud-top
entrainment rate increases in all cases, with stronger increases for
thicker than thinner clouds; (b) the drying and warming induced by
increased entrainment is offset to differing degrees by corresponding
responses in surface fluxes, precipitation, and radiation; (c) MBL
turbulence responds to changes caused by the aerosol perturbation, and this
significantly affects cloud macrophysics; (d) across 2 d of simulation,
clouds were brightened in all cases. In a pristine MBL, significant drizzle
suppression by aerosol injections results not only in greater water
retention but also in turbulence intensification, leading to a significant
increase in cloud amount. In this case, Twomey brightening is strongly
augmented by an increase in cloud thickness and cover. In addition, a
reduction in the loss of aerosol through coalescence scavenging more than
offsets the entrainment dilution. This interplay precludes estimation of
the lifetime of the aerosol perturbation. The combined responses of cloud
macro- and microphysics lead to 10–100 times more effective cloud
brightening in these cases relative to those in the non-precipitating MBL
cases. In moderate and polluted MBLs, entrainment enhancement makes the
boundary layer drier, warmer, and more stratified, leading to a decrease in
cloud thickness. This LWP response offsets the greatest fraction of the
Twomey brightening in a moderately moist free troposphere. This finding
differs from previous studies that found larger offsets in a drier free
troposphere, and it results from a greater entrainment enhancement of
initially thicker clouds, so the offsetting effects are weaker. The
injected aerosol lifetime in cases with polluted MBLs is estimated to be
2–3 d, which is much longer than estimates of typical ship track lifetimes
from satellite images.

*Source: ResearchGate*

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups 
"geoengineering" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email 
to [email protected].
To view this discussion on the web visit 
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/geoengineering/CAOyeF5toibB2chn4O09yBgfL5k2i6hutdwzH9%2B-G3j5mpy_88g%40mail.gmail.com.

Reply via email to