Freezing drizzle formation in stably stratified layer clouds: The role of radiative cooling of cloud droplets, cloud condensation nuclei, and ice initiation

Abstract

This study evaluates the role of 1) low cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) conditions and 2) preferred radiative cooling of large cloud drops as compared to small cloud drops, on cloud droplet spectral broadening and subsequent freezing drizzle formation in stably stratified layer clouds. In addition, the sensitivity of freezing drizzle formation to ice initiation is evaluated. The evaluation is performed by simulating cloud formation over a two-dimensional idealized mountain using a detailed microphysical scheme implemented into the National Center for Atmospheric Research-Pennsylvania State University Mesoscale Model version 5. The height and width of the two-dimensional mountain were designed to produce an updraft pattern with extent and magnitude similar to documented freezing drizzle cases. The results of the model simulations were compared to observations and good agreement was found. The key results of this study are 1) low CCN concentrations lead to rapid formation of freezing drizzle. This occurs due to the broad cloud droplet size distribution formed throughout the cloud in this situation, allowing for rapid broadening of the spectra to the point at which the collision- coalescence process is initiated. 2) Continental clouds can produce freezing drizzle given sufficient depth and time. 3) Radiative cooling of the cloud droplets near cloud top can be effective in broadening an initially continental droplet spectrum toward that of a maritime cloud droplet size distribution. 4) Any mechanism that only broadens the cloud droplet spectra near cloud top, such as radiative cooling, may not act over a sufficiently broad volume of the cloud to produce significant amounts of freezing drizzle. 5) Low ice-crystal concentrations (<0.08 L-1) in the region of freezing drizzle formation is a necessary condition for drizzle formation (from both model and observations). 6) Ice nuclei depletion is a necessary requirement for the formation of freezing drizzle. 7) The maximum cloud water mixing ratio and threshold amount for the onset of drizzle in stably stratified clouds was shown to depend strongly on the CCN concentration. 8) A key factor controlling the formation of freezing drizzle in stratified clouds is the lifetime of the mesoscale and synoptic conditions and the thickness and length of the cloud.