Lidar retrievals of cloud droplet number concentration at the cumulus base: A feasibility study

The properties of atmospheric aerosol under a cumulus base were studied using three-wavelength lidar. A growth of hygroscopic aerosol particles in a convective updraft and the activation of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) were observed. A simple and robust model of droplet formation in a rising parc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Atmospheric research 2014-06, Vol.142, p.32-39
Main Authors: Stacewicz, T., Posyniak, M., Sitarek, S., Malinowski, S.P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cloud droplet number concentration
Cloud physics
Cumulus base
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
External geophysics
Lidar
Meteorology
Remote sensing
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Summary:The properties of atmospheric aerosol under a cumulus base were studied using three-wavelength lidar. A growth of hygroscopic aerosol particles in a convective updraft and the activation of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) were observed. A simple and robust model of droplet formation in a rising parcel was used as a closing assumption to the original approach of cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC) retrieval. The potential to retrieve the vertical profile of the effective radius of droplets near the cloud base and the height of activation and condensation of nuclei is demonstrated. •We use a three-wavelength lidar to study convective clouds.•We use simulations of aerosol activation as constraints for retrievals of cloud droplet number concentration.•We demonstrate, that this approach leads to reasonable retrievals of droplet concentrations.
ISSN:0169-8095
1873-2895
DOI:10.1016/j.atmosres.2013.10.023