The effects of deep convection on the concentration and size distribution of aerosol particles within the upper troposphere: A case study

• Published in: Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres 2012-11, Vol.117 (D22), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Yin, Yan, Chen, Qian, Jin, Lianji, Chen, Baojun, Zhu, Shichao, Zhang, Xiaopei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accretion; aerosol layer; Aerosols; Atmospheric sciences; Boundary layers; Chemistry; Cloud physics; Clouds; Convection; Crystals; deep convection; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Freezing; Geophysics; Ice; Meteorology; Particle size; Particles and aerosols; Physics; Radar; size distribution; Troposphere; vertical transport
• ISSN: 0148-0227; 2169-897X; 2156-2202; 2169-8996
• DOI: 10.1029/2012JD017827

A cloud resolving model coupled with a spectral bin microphysical scheme was used to investigate the effects of deep convection on the concentration and size distribution of aerosol particles within the upper troposphere. A deep convective storm that occurred on 1 December, 2005 in Darwin, Australia was simulated, and was compared with available radar observations. The results showed that the radar echo of the storm in the developing stage was well reproduced by the model. Sensitivity tests for aerosol layers at different altitudes were conducted in order to understand how the concentration and size distribution of aerosol particles within the upper troposphere can be influenced by the vertical transport of aerosols as a result of deep convection. The results indicated that aerosols originating from the boundary layer can be more efficiently transported upward, as compared to those from the mid‐troposphere, due to significantly increased vertical velocity through the reinforced homogeneous freezing of droplets. Precipitation increased when aerosol layers were lofted at different altitudes, except for the case where an aerosol layer appeared at 5.4–8.0 km, in which relatively more efficient heterogeneous ice nucleation and subsequent Wegener‐Bergeron‐Findeisen process resulted in more pronounced production of ice crystals, and prohibited the formation of graupel particles via accretion. Sensitivity tests revealed, at least for the cases considered, that the concentration of aerosol particles within the upper troposphere increased by a factor of 7.71, 5.36, and 5.16, respectively, when enhanced aerosol layers existed at 0–2.2 km, 2.2–5.4 km, and 5.4–8.0 km, with Aitken mode and a portion of accumulation mode (0.1–0.2μm) particles being the most susceptible to upward transport. Key Points The effects of deep convection on aerosol vertical distributions are studied Aerosol layer existing at boundary layer leads to efficient convective transport Layers lofted at mid‐troposphere result in 2 peaks in aerosol vertical profile