A New Technique for the Study of Cloud Microstructure

Abstract

A technique is described by which the spacing of cloud particles can be measured using existing data from a cloud particle measurement probe. The monitor circuit used in this application is inexpensive and easy to build and connects easily to data systems already interfaced to particle measuring probes. Preliminary results show excellent agreement between predicted and measured spatial distributions of cloud droplets in adiabatic cloud regions but not always in mixed cloud regions on 10-m scales. This technique promise to be a valuable tool for the investigation of entrainment and other small-scale cloud microphysical processes.