Cloud Condensation Nucleus Size Distributions and Their Effects on Cloud Droplet Size Distributions

• Published in: Journal of the atmospheric sciences 1977-06, Vol.34 (6), p.951-956
• Main Authors: Hindman, Edward E., Hobbs, Peter V., Radke, Lawrence F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0022-4928; 1520-0469
• DOI: 10.1175/1520-0469(1977)034<0951:CCNSDA>2.0.CO;2

Cloud droplet size distributions, calculated from cloud condensation nucleus (CCN) measurements made beneath nonraining, warm clouds in western and eastern Washington State, show agreement with droplet size distributions measured in the clouds. The results of the measurements and the calculations show that high concentrations of large (0.2 less than or equal to D less than or equal to 2 mu m) and giant (D greater than or equal to 2 mu m) CCN lead to droplet size distributions that contain large droplets (D greater than or equal to 30 mu m) only if low concentrations of small (0.06 < approximately D < 0.2 mu m) CCN are present. If high concentrations of small CCN are present, the droplet size distributions contain few, if any, large droplets, regardless of the concentrations of giant CCN.