An observational study on cloud spectralwidth in north China

Abstract

Cloud droplet size distribution (CDSD) is a critical characteristic for a number of processes related to clouds, considering that cloud droplets are formed in different sizes above the cloud-base. This paper analyzes the in-situ aircraft measurements of CDSDs and aerosol concentration (Na) performed in stratiform clouds in Hebei, China, in 2015 to reveal the characteristics of cloud spectral width, commonly known as relative dispersion (ε, ratio of standard deviation (σ) to mean radius (r) of the CDSD). A new algorithm is developed to calculate the contributions of droplets of different sizes to ε. It is found that small droplets with the size range of 1 to 5.5 μm and medium droplets with the size range of 5.5 to 10 μm are the major contributors to ε, and the medium droplets generally dominate the change of ε. The variation of ε with Na can be well explained by comparing the normalized changes of σ and r (kσ/σ and kr/r), rather than kσ and kr only (kσ is δσ/δNa and kr is δr/δNa). From the perspective of external factors affecting ε change, the effects of Na and condensation are examined. It is found that ε increases initially and decreases afterward as Na increases, and "condensational broadening" occurs up to 1 km above cloud-base, potentially providing observational evidence for recent numerical simulations in the literature.