2169-8996/asset/olbannerleft.jpg?v=1&s=15d19ce570170ed040bf1d3245091d973bb7805a)
2169-8996/asset/olbannerright.jpg?v=1&s=929ee5520837d2177e234ee94d93ef84adaa4cb2)
Aerosol and Clouds
Physically based parameterization of cirrus cloud formation for use in global atmospheric models
Article first published online: 14 JAN 2006
DOI: 10.1029/2005JD006219
Copyright 2006 by the American Geophysical Union.
2169-8996/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=eb26df77c6489aae7beb4facebed6f1946f71ff8 "Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres (1984–2012)")
Additional Information
How to Cite
, , and (2006), Physically based parameterization of cirrus cloud formation for use in global atmospheric models, J. Geophys. Res., 111, D01205, doi:10.1029/2005JD006219.
Publication History
- Issue published online: 14 JAN 2006
- Article first published online: 14 JAN 2006
- Manuscript Accepted: 8 NOV 2005
- Manuscript Revised: 14 SEP 2005
- Manuscript Received: 13 MAY 2005
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- cirrus clouds;
- global models;
- parameterization
[1] Motivated by the need to study the climatic impact of aerosol-related cirrus cloud changes, a physically based parameterization scheme of ice initiation and initial growth of ice crystals in young cirrus clouds has been developed. The scheme tracks the number density and size of nucleated ice crystals as a function of vertical wind speed, temperature, ice saturation ratio, aerosol number size distributions, and preexisting cloud ice, allowing for competition between heterogeneous ice nuclei and liquid aerosol particles during freezing. Predictions of the parameterization are compared with numerical parcel simulations of ice nucleation and growth from atmospheric aerosols, with a special focus on explaining the indirect effects of ice nuclei on the properties of young cirrus clouds. The uncertainties of the parameterization are discussed and its implementation in a general circulation model is briefly outlined. This new scheme establishes a flexible framework for a comprehensive assessment of indirect aerosol effects on and properties of cirrus clouds in global climate, chemistry transport, and weather forecast models.