![Page 1: The effect of the size of CCN on drizzle and rain formation in convective clouds Roelof T. Bruintjes Research Applications Program, National Center for](https://reader038.vdocument.in/reader038/viewer/2022110403/56649e5e5503460f94b579a5/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
The effect of the size of CCN on drizzle and rain formation in convective clouds
Roelof T. Bruintjes
Research Applications Program, National Center for Atmospheric Research, P.O.
Box 3000, Boulder, Colorado, 80307
13 June 2004
WMO INTERNATIONAL CLOUD MODELING WORKSHOP
![Page 2: The effect of the size of CCN on drizzle and rain formation in convective clouds Roelof T. Bruintjes Research Applications Program, National Center for](https://reader038.vdocument.in/reader038/viewer/2022110403/56649e5e5503460f94b579a5/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Hygroscopic Seeding: History
Since its inception, the term “hygroscopic seeding” has taken on slightly different meanings depending on the experimental design, type of seeding material used, and the type of cloud that was the subject for experimentation.
In all instances the ultimate goal has been to enhance rainfall by somehow promoting the coalescence process. The direct introduction of “appropriately” sized CCN that can act as artificial rain drop embryos using either water sprays, dilute saline solutions, or grinded salts, are the most common hygroscopic seeding techniques used previously.
The primary objective of introducing artificial rain drop embryos (salt particles larger than 10 m diameter) is to short circuit the action of the CCN population in determining the initial character of the cloud droplet population, and thus, jumpstart the coalescence process.
![Page 3: The effect of the size of CCN on drizzle and rain formation in convective clouds Roelof T. Bruintjes Research Applications Program, National Center for](https://reader038.vdocument.in/reader038/viewer/2022110403/56649e5e5503460f94b579a5/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Some Comments on Hygroscopic Seeding
• Two methods: add giant/ultra-giant, or add large particles. Most experiments have used UGA, but recent experiments use flares that produce both.
• UGA produce embryos that grow to raindrops, but continued influence on the cloud will depend on breakup or some other mechanism to overcome the problem that each embryo otherwise produces one raindrop.
• Large CCN instead rely on acceleration of the production of drizzle which can occur in higher concentrations because the CCN are much smaller.
![Page 4: The effect of the size of CCN on drizzle and rain formation in convective clouds Roelof T. Bruintjes Research Applications Program, National Center for](https://reader038.vdocument.in/reader038/viewer/2022110403/56649e5e5503460f94b579a5/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Measured Size Distributionof Smoke from S.A. Flares:
Two distributions used, one including2D measurements (from anotherflight)
PCASPHistogram: Measured Distribution,PCASP
Smooth Lines: Sum of Fitted Log-Normal Distributions (with two orthree components)
Measurements made by flying behind seeding aircraft. Concentrations diluted(typically by a factor of 100) to allow for dilution as smoke enters cloud.
![Page 5: The effect of the size of CCN on drizzle and rain formation in convective clouds Roelof T. Bruintjes Research Applications Program, National Center for](https://reader038.vdocument.in/reader038/viewer/2022110403/56649e5e5503460f94b579a5/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
(a) assumed N=1000(SS/1%)0.5
(b) use transition to Junge distri- bution for intermediate sizes(c) match (limited) observations at largest sizes (Alofs and Liu)(d) assumed ammonium sulfate for natural CCN, KCl for seeded.
Note that assumed size distribution at largesize is critical. Distributions of the formN=C(SS)k have infinite mass unless k>2and give unrealistic concentrations of giant CCN.
Cloud Condensation Nuclei
![Page 6: The effect of the size of CCN on drizzle and rain formation in convective clouds Roelof T. Bruintjes Research Applications Program, National Center for](https://reader038.vdocument.in/reader038/viewer/2022110403/56649e5e5503460f94b579a5/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Comparison of “special” natural and seeded cases:
Significant acceleration of the precipitation process results.
Condensate after 30 min: 0.02 % in raindrops vs 82% or 85% in raindrops
![Page 7: The effect of the size of CCN on drizzle and rain formation in convective clouds Roelof T. Bruintjes Research Applications Program, National Center for](https://reader038.vdocument.in/reader038/viewer/2022110403/56649e5e5503460f94b579a5/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
If a size distribution having 1 um geometric-mean diameter (instead of 0.5 um) is used, without the large and giant components of the particle size distribution, the process is still faster and the effect of early broadening of the droplet size distribution is more evident. Drizzle concentrations are enhanced substantially.
![Page 8: The effect of the size of CCN on drizzle and rain formation in convective clouds Roelof T. Bruintjes Research Applications Program, National Center for](https://reader038.vdocument.in/reader038/viewer/2022110403/56649e5e5503460f94b579a5/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
![Page 9: The effect of the size of CCN on drizzle and rain formation in convective clouds Roelof T. Bruintjes Research Applications Program, National Center for](https://reader038.vdocument.in/reader038/viewer/2022110403/56649e5e5503460f94b579a5/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
0 0.5 1 1.5
Supersaturation (%)
CC
N c
once
ntra
tion
(cm
-3)
1 730 m (3)1 250 m (6)1 730 m (7)2 650 m (8)Power (1 730 m (7))Power (2 650 m (8))Power (1 250 m (6))Power (1 730 m (3))
(8)
(6)(7)
(3)
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
0 0.5 1 1.5
Supersaturation (%)
CC
N c
once
ntra
tion
(cm
-3)
3 550 m asl (5)3 550 m asl (9)1 300 m asl (10)1 730 m asl (11)2 500 m asl (12)Power (2 500 m asl (12))Power (1 730 m asl (11))Power (3 550 m asl (9))Power (3 550 m asl (5))Power (1 300 m asl (10))
(10)(11)(5)(9)
(12)
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
0 0.5 1 1.5
Supersaturation (%)
CC
N c
once
ntr
atio
n (
cm-3
)
230 m asl (1)
700 m asl (2)
Power (230 masl (1))Power (700 masl (2))
(1)
(2)
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
0 0.5 1 1.5
Supersaturation (%)
CC
N c
once
ntra
tion
(cm
-3)
2 630 m asl (4)
3 250 m asl (13)
Power (3 250 m asl(13))Power (2 630 m asl(4))
(4)(13)
![Page 10: The effect of the size of CCN on drizzle and rain formation in convective clouds Roelof T. Bruintjes Research Applications Program, National Center for](https://reader038.vdocument.in/reader038/viewer/2022110403/56649e5e5503460f94b579a5/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) particle analyses
KCl crystals in young smoke from two different flaming fires.
![Page 11: The effect of the size of CCN on drizzle and rain formation in convective clouds Roelof T. Bruintjes Research Applications Program, National Center for](https://reader038.vdocument.in/reader038/viewer/2022110403/56649e5e5503460f94b579a5/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
TEM images from more aged smoke (20 to 30 min). KCL has transformed into potassium sulfate and nitrate and form inclusions within organic particles.
![Page 12: The effect of the size of CCN on drizzle and rain formation in convective clouds Roelof T. Bruintjes Research Applications Program, National Center for](https://reader038.vdocument.in/reader038/viewer/2022110403/56649e5e5503460f94b579a5/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Similar chemical transformation have been observed in polluted marine environments (McInnes et al. 1994)
The reaction between sea salt and acific nitrate and sulfate is expected to liberate HCl gas leaving the the particles enriched in nitrate and sulfate.
KNO3(g) + NaCl(p) HCl(g) + NaNO3(p)
H2SO4(g) + 2NaCl(p) 2HCl(g) + Na2SO4(p)
![Page 13: The effect of the size of CCN on drizzle and rain formation in convective clouds Roelof T. Bruintjes Research Applications Program, National Center for](https://reader038.vdocument.in/reader038/viewer/2022110403/56649e5e5503460f94b579a5/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Li et al. 2002: Pristine and partly reacted sea salt particles over the North Atlantic
![Page 14: The effect of the size of CCN on drizzle and rain formation in convective clouds Roelof T. Bruintjes Research Applications Program, National Center for](https://reader038.vdocument.in/reader038/viewer/2022110403/56649e5e5503460f94b579a5/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Sizes and concentrations
1. Biomass burning particles are mostly sub-micron with KCl dominant initially in flaming fires.
2. Initial particles through chemical processes transform from potassium chloride to potassium sulfate and nitrate and are usually smaller.
3. Ultimately in regional haze ammonium sulfate particles dominate by far and are submicron.
4. The larger than 1 µm diameter particles primarily are comprised of NaCl and mineral dust. Closer to the oceans NaCl dominates and further inland mineral dust dominates.
5. Near ocean NaCl also transforms to sodium sulfate and nitrate in polluted environments.
![Page 15: The effect of the size of CCN on drizzle and rain formation in convective clouds Roelof T. Bruintjes Research Applications Program, National Center for](https://reader038.vdocument.in/reader038/viewer/2022110403/56649e5e5503460f94b579a5/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Diameter (microns)
Dro
plet
num
ber c
once
ntra
tion
(cm
-3um
-1) Industrial/Biomass burning
Marine/Biomass burningBiomass burning
![Page 16: The effect of the size of CCN on drizzle and rain formation in convective clouds Roelof T. Bruintjes Research Applications Program, National Center for](https://reader038.vdocument.in/reader038/viewer/2022110403/56649e5e5503460f94b579a5/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
•Fresh smoke seem to contain the most effective CCN while the effectiveness diminishes with age especially at supersaturations less than 1% with aerosol particles experiencing chemical transformations.•Aerosol and CCN spectra were found to be fairly homogeneous in regional haze and the CCN number concentration N as a function of supersaturation S can be described by the relation N = 692S0.54.
•Peak cloud droplet concentrations (>800 cm-3) in clouds during SAFARI were typical for clouds
growing in highly polluted environments.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
![Page 17: The effect of the size of CCN on drizzle and rain formation in convective clouds Roelof T. Bruintjes Research Applications Program, National Center for](https://reader038.vdocument.in/reader038/viewer/2022110403/56649e5e5503460f94b579a5/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
1.E-6
1.E-5
1.E-4
1.E-3
1.E-2
1.E-1
1.E+0
1.E+1
1.E+2
1.E+3
1.E+4
0.1 1 10 100
Diameter (m)
dN/d
LogD
Pristine continentalRural continentalIndustrial continentalLess polluted coastalPolluted coastalPristine cont (10%sol)
Coarse Giant
10% hygroscopic
1% hygroscopic
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
Supersaturation (%)
CC
N c
once
ntra
tion
(cm
-3)
Aerosol sizedistributions
CCN activationspectra
![Page 18: The effect of the size of CCN on drizzle and rain formation in convective clouds Roelof T. Bruintjes Research Applications Program, National Center for](https://reader038.vdocument.in/reader038/viewer/2022110403/56649e5e5503460f94b579a5/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
0
100
200
300
400
500
0 5 10 15Mean droplet radius (m)
Hei
ght a
bove
clo
ud b
ase
(m) Pristine
RuralIndustrial
0
100
200
300
400
500
0 500 1000 1500Droplet concentration (cm-3)
Hei
ght a
bove
clo
ud b
ase
(m) Pristine
RuralIndustrial
0
100
200
300
400
500
0 0.5 1 1.5Supersaturation (%)
Hei
ght a
bove
clo
ud b
ase
(m) Pristine
RuralIndustrial
Effect of accumulation mode aerosol concentration
![Page 19: The effect of the size of CCN on drizzle and rain formation in convective clouds Roelof T. Bruintjes Research Applications Program, National Center for](https://reader038.vdocument.in/reader038/viewer/2022110403/56649e5e5503460f94b579a5/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
drizzle raindrops
Pristine continental
Rural continental
Industrial continental
PRODUCTION OFDRIZZLE AND RAINDROPS
WITH INCREASING ACCUMULATION MODE
AEROSOL CONCENTRATION
![Page 20: The effect of the size of CCN on drizzle and rain formation in convective clouds Roelof T. Bruintjes Research Applications Program, National Center for](https://reader038.vdocument.in/reader038/viewer/2022110403/56649e5e5503460f94b579a5/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Pristinecontinental
Industrialcontinental
Pollutedmaritime
No large aerosols With large aerosols
drizzle raindrops
EFFECT OF LARGEAEROSOLS ON DRIZZLE AND
PRECIPITATIONPRODUCTION
![Page 21: The effect of the size of CCN on drizzle and rain formation in convective clouds Roelof T. Bruintjes Research Applications Program, National Center for](https://reader038.vdocument.in/reader038/viewer/2022110403/56649e5e5503460f94b579a5/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
POLLUTEDCOASTAL
Aerosols<1m diameter
Aerosols<10m diameter
Aerosols<50m diameter
![Page 22: The effect of the size of CCN on drizzle and rain formation in convective clouds Roelof T. Bruintjes Research Applications Program, National Center for](https://reader038.vdocument.in/reader038/viewer/2022110403/56649e5e5503460f94b579a5/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
INDUSTRIALCONTINENTAL
Aerosols<1m diameter
Aerosols<10m diameter
Aerosols<50m diameter
![Page 23: The effect of the size of CCN on drizzle and rain formation in convective clouds Roelof T. Bruintjes Research Applications Program, National Center for](https://reader038.vdocument.in/reader038/viewer/2022110403/56649e5e5503460f94b579a5/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
PRISTINECONTINENTAL
Aerosols<1m diameter
Aerosols<10m diameter
Aerosols<50m diameter
![Page 24: The effect of the size of CCN on drizzle and rain formation in convective clouds Roelof T. Bruintjes Research Applications Program, National Center for](https://reader038.vdocument.in/reader038/viewer/2022110403/56649e5e5503460f94b579a5/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Time (minutes)
Dro
plet
con
cent
ratio
n (c
m-3
)
C1: Less polluted coastal (aerosols < 1 m)
C2: Less polluted coastal (aerosols < 10 m)
C3: Less polluted coastal (aerosols < 50 m)
PC1: Polluted coastal (aerosols < 1 m)
PC2: Polluted coastal (aerosols < 10 m)
PC3: Polluted coastal (aerosols < 50 m)
C1
C3 C2
PC1
PC3 PC2
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Time (minutes)
Dro
plet
con
cent
ratio
n (c
m-3
)
P1: Pristine continental (aerosols < 1 m)
P2: Pristine continental (aerosols < 10 m)
P3: Pristine continental (aerosols < 50 m)
R1: Rural continental (aerosols < 1 m)
R2: Rural continental (aerosols < 10 m)
R3: Rural continental (aerosols < 50 m)
P1
P2
P3
R1
R2
R3
CONCENTRATIONOF DROPLETS
WITH DIAMETER >40 m
Continentalconditions
Coastalconditions
![Page 25: The effect of the size of CCN on drizzle and rain formation in convective clouds Roelof T. Bruintjes Research Applications Program, National Center for](https://reader038.vdocument.in/reader038/viewer/2022110403/56649e5e5503460f94b579a5/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
•The cloud droplet size distribution is dependent on the chemistry, size and concentrations of the aerosol population and aerosols.•Course mode aerosols (CCN) between 0.8 and 5 µm diameter governs the drizzle production in convective updrafts.• Transfer of water via coalescence process to rain water proceeds more rapidly with higher drizzle concentrations.•Drizzle also mixes through larger parts of the cloud resulting in larger parts of the cloud developing an effective coalescence process.
•These studies support the rainfall enhancement studies using hygroscopic flares.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
![Page 26: The effect of the size of CCN on drizzle and rain formation in convective clouds Roelof T. Bruintjes Research Applications Program, National Center for](https://reader038.vdocument.in/reader038/viewer/2022110403/56649e5e5503460f94b579a5/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
THE END