Effects of aerosol solubility and regeneration on mixed-phase orographic clouds and precipitation

Abstract

A detailed bin aerosol-microphysics scheme has been implemented into the Weather Research and Forecast Model to investigate the effects of aerosol solubility and regeneration on mixed-phase orographic clouds and precipitation. Two-dimensional simulations of idealized moist flow over two identical bell-shaped mountains were carried out using different combinations of aerosol regeneration, solubility, loading, ice nucleation parameterizations, and humidity. The results showed the following. 1) Pollution and regenerated aerosols suppress the riming process in mixed-phase clouds by narrowing the drop spectrum. In general, the lower the aerosol solubility, the broader the drop spectrum and thus the higher the riming rate. When the solubility of initial aerosol increases with an increasing size of aerosol particles, the modified solubility of regenerated aerosols reduces precipitation. 2) The qualitative effects of aerosol solubility and regeneration on mixed-phase orographic clouds and precipitation are not affected by different ice nucleation parameterizations. 3) The impacts of aerosol properties on rain are similar in both warm- and mixed-phase clouds. Aerosols exert weaker impact on snow and stronger impact on graupel compared to rain as graupel production is strongly affected by riming. 4) Precipitation of both warm- and mixed-phase clouds is most sensitive to aerosol regeneration, then to aerosol solubility, and last to modified solubility of regenerated aerosol; however, the precipitation amount is mainly controlled by humidity and aerosol loading. © 2012 American Meteorological Society.