The Probability Density Function Related to Shallow Cumulus Entrainment Rate and Its Influencing Factors in a Large-Eddy Simulation

The process of entrainment-mixing between cumulus clouds and the ambient air is important for the development of cumulus clouds.Accurately obtaining the entrainment rate(λ)is particularly important for its parameterization within the overall cumulus parameterization scheme.In this study,an improved bulk-plume method is proposed by solving the equations of two conserved variables simultaneously to calculateλof cumulus clouds in a large-eddy simulation.The results demonstrate that the improved bulk-plume method is more reliable than the traditional bulk-plume method,becauseλ,as calculated from the improved method,falls within the range ofλvalues obtained from the traditional method using different conserved variables.The probability density functions ofλfor all data,different times,and different heights can be well-fitted by a log-normal distribution,which supports the assumed stochastic entrainment process in previous studies.Further analysis demonstrate that the relationship betweenλand the vertical velocity is better than other thermodynamic/dynamical properties;thus,the vertical velocity is recommended as the primary influencing factor for the parameterization ofλin the future.The results of this study enhance the theoretical understanding ofλand its influencing factors and shed new light on the development ofλparameterization.

The Influence of Airflow Transport Pathways on Precipitation during the Rainy Season in the Liupan Mountains of Northwest China

This study investigates the influence of airflow transport pathways on seasonal rainfall in the mountainous region of the Liupan Mountains(LM) during the rainy seasons from 2020 to 2022, utilizing observational data from seven ground gradient stations located on the eastern slopes, western slopes, and mountaintops combined with backward trajectory cluster analysis. The results indicate 1) that the LM's rainy season, characterized by overcast and rainy days, is mainly influenced by cold and moist airflows(CMAs) from the westerly direction and warm and moist airflows(WMAs) from a slightly southern direction. The precipitation amounts under four airflow transport paths are ranked from largest to smallest as follows: WMAs, CMAs, warm dry airflows(WDAs), and cold dry airflows(CDAs). 2) WMAs contribute significantly more to the intensity of regional precipitation than the other three types of airflows. During localized precipitation events,warm airflows have higher precipitation intensities at night than cold airflows, while the opposite is true during the afternoon. 3) During regional precipitation events, water vapor content is the primary influencing factor. Precipitation characteristics under humid airflows are mainly affected by high water vapor content, whereas during dry airflow precipitation, dynamic and thermodynamic factors have a more pronounced impact. 4) During localized precipitation events, the influence of dynamic and thermodynamic factors is more complex than during regional precipitation, with the precipitation characteristics of the four airflows closely related to their water vapor content, air temperature and humidity attributes, and orographic lifting. 5) Compared to regional precipitation, the influence of topography is more prominent in localized precipitation processes.

Characteristics of Surface Solar Radiation under Different Air Pollution Conditions over Nanjing, China: Observation and Simulation

Surface solar radiation (SSR) can affect climate, the hydrological cycle, plant photosynthesis, and solar power. The values of solar radiation at the surface reflect the influence of human activity on radiative climate and environmental effects, so it is a key parameter in the evaluation of climate change and air pollution due to anthropogenic disturbances. This study presents the characteristics of the SSR variation in Nanjing, China, from March 2016 to June 2017, using a combined set of pyranometer and pyrheliometer observations. The SSR seasonal variation and statistical properties are investigated and characterized under different air pollution levels and visibilities. We discuss seasonal variations in visibility, air quality index (AQI), particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), and their correlations with SSR. The scattering of solar radiation by particulate matter varies significantly with particle size. Compared with the particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter between 2.5 μm and 10 μm (PM2.5-10), we found that the PM2.5 dominates the variation of scattered radiation due to the differences of single-scattering albedo and phase function. Because of the correlation between PM2.5 and SSR, it is an effective and direct method to estimate PM2.5 by the value of SSR, or vice versa to obtain the SSR by the value of PM2.5. Under clear-sky conditions (clearness index ≥0.5), the visibility is negatively correlated with the diffuse fraction, AQI, PM10, and PM2.5, and their correlation coefficients are ?0.50,?0.60,?0.76, and ?0.92, respectively. The results indicate the linkage between scattered radiation and air quality through the value of visibility.

Variability of Raindrop Size Distribution during a Regional Freezing Rain Event in the Jianghan Plain of Central China

The characteristics of the raindrop size distribution(DSD)during regional freezing rain(FR)events that occur throughout the phase change(from liquid to solid)are poorly understood due to limited observations.We investigate the evolution of microphysical parameters and the key formation mechanisms of regional FR using the DSDs from five disdrometer sites in January 2018 in the Jianghan Plain(JHP)of Central China.FR is identified via the size and velocity distribution measured from a disdrometer,the discrete Fréchet distancemethod,surface temperature,human observations,and sounding data.With the persistence of precipitation,the emergence of graupel or snowflakes significantly reduces the proportion of FR.The enhancement of this regional FR event is mainly dominated by the increase in the number concentration of raindrops but weakly affected by the diameters.To improve the accuracy of quantitative precipitation estimation for the FR event,a modified second-degree polynomial relation between the shapeμand slopeΛof gamma DSDs is derived,and a new Z-R(radar reflectivity to rain rate)relationship is developed.The mean values of mass-weighted mean diameters(D_(m))and generalized intercepts(lgN_(w))in FR are close to the stratiform results in the northern region of China.Both the melting of tiny-rimed graupels and large-dry snowflakes are a response to the formation of this regional FR process in the JHP,dominated by the joint influence of the physical mechanism of warm rain,vapor deposition,and aggregation/riming coupled with the effect of weak convective motion in some periods.

Parameterization and Explicit Modeling of Cloud Microphysics:Approaches, Challenges, and Future Directions

Cloud microphysical processes occur at the smallest end of scales among cloud-related processes and thus must be parameterized not only in large-scale global circulation models(GCMs)but also in various higher-resolution limited-area models such as cloud-resolving models(CRMs)and large-eddy simulation(LES)models.Instead of giving a comprehensive review of existing microphysical parameterizations that have been developed over the years,this study concentrates purposely on several topics that we believe are understudied but hold great potential for further advancing bulk microphysics parameterizations:multi-moment bulk microphysics parameterizations and the role of the spectral shape of hydrometeor size distributions;discrete vs“continuous”representation of hydrometeor types;turbulence-microphysics interactions including turbulent entrainment-mixing processes and stochastic condensation;theoretical foundations for the mathematical expressions used to describe hydrometeor size distributions and hydrometeor morphology;and approaches for developing bulk microphysics parameterizations.Also presented are the spectral bin scheme and particle-based scheme(especially,super-droplet method)for representing explicit microphysics.Their advantages and disadvantages are elucidated for constructing cloud models with detailed microphysics that are essential to developing processes understanding and bulk microphysics parameterizations.Particle-resolved direct numerical simulation(DNS)models are described as an emerging technique to investigate turbulence-microphysics interactions at the most fundamental level by tracking individual particles and resolving the smallest turbulent eddies in turbulent clouds.Outstanding challenges and future research directions are explored as well.

Seasonal and Diurnal Variations of Cloud Systems over the Eastern Tibetan Plateau and East China:A Cloud-resolving Model Study

The seasonal and diurnal variations of cloud systems are profoundly affected by the large-scale and local environments.In this study,a one-year-long simulation was conducted using a two-dimensional cloud-resolving model over the Eastern Tibetan Plateau(ETP)and two subregions of Eastern China:Southern East China and Central East China.Deep convective clouds(DCCs)rarely occur in the cold season over ETP,whereas DCCs appear in Eastern China throughout the year,and the ETP DCCs are approximately 20%−30%shallower than those over Eastern China.Most strong rainfall events(precipitation intensity,PI>2.5 mm h−1)in Eastern China are related to warm-season DCCs with ice cloud processes.Because of the high elevation of the ETP,the warm-season freezing level is lower than in Eastern China,providing favorable conditions for ice cloud processes.DCCs are responsible for the diurnal variations of warm-season rainfall in all three regions.Warm-season DCCs over the ETP have the greatest total cloud water content and frequency in the afternoon,resulting in an afternoon rainfall peak.In addition,rainfall events in the ETP also exhibit a nocturnal peak in spring,summer,and autumn due to DCCs.Strong surface heat fluxes around noon can trigger or promote DCCs in spring,summer,and autumn over the ETP but produce only cumulus clouds in winter due to the cold and dry environment.

Relationships between Cloud Droplet Spectral Relative Dispersion and Entrainment Rate and Their Impacting Factors

Cloud microphysical properties are significantly affected by entrainment and mixing processes.However,it is unclear how the entrainment rate affects the relative dispersion of cloud droplet size distribution.Previously,the relationship between relative dispersion and entrainment rate was found to be positive or negative.To reconcile the contrasting relationships,the Explicit Mixing Parcel Model is used to determine the underlying mechanisms.When evaporation is dominated by small droplets,and the entrained environmental air is further saturated during mixing,the relationship is negative.However,when the evaporation of big droplets is dominant,the relationship is positive.Whether or not the cloud condensation nuclei are considered in the entrained environmental air is a key factor as condensation on the entrained condensation nuclei is the main source of small droplets.However,if cloud condensation nuclei are not entrained,the relationship is positive.If cloud condensation nuclei are entrained,the relationship is dependent on many other factors.High values of vertical velocity,relative humidity of environmental air,and liquid water content,and low values of droplet number concentration,are more likely to cause the negative relationship since new saturation is easier to achieve by evaporation of small droplets.Further,the signs of the relationship are not strongly affected by the turbulence dissipation rate,but the higher dissipation rate causes the positive relationship to be more significant for a larger entrainment rate.A conceptual model is proposed to reconcile the contrasting relationships.This work enhances the understanding of relative dispersion and lays a foundation for the quantification of entrainment-mixing mechanisms.

Parameterizations of different hydrometeor spectral relative dispersion in the convective clouds

Spectral relative dispersion of different hydrometeors is vital to accurately describe sedimentation.Here,the Weather Research and Forecasting model with spectral bin microphysics is used to simulate convective clouds in Shouxian of Anhui province in China to study the spectral relative dispersion of different hydrometeors.Firstly,regardless of clean or polluted conditions,the relative dispersion of ice crystal spectra and its volume-mean diameter are negatively correlated,while the relative dispersion of other hydrometeor spectra is positively related to their respective volume-mean diameter.The correlations for cloud droplets and raindrops are affected by the process of collision-coalescence;the correlations for ice crystals,graupel particles,and snow particles could be affected by the deposition,riming,and aggregation processes,respectively.Secondly,relative dispersion parameterizations are developed based on a comprehensive consideration of the relationships between the relative dispersion and volume-mean diameter under both polluted and clean conditions.Finally,the relative dispersion parameterizations are applied to terminal velocity parameterizations.The results show that for cloud droplets,ice crystals,graupel particles,and snow particles,assuming the shape parameter in the Gamma distribution is equal to 0 underestimates the shape parameter and overestimates the relative dispersion;and for raindrops,assuming the shape parameter is equal to 0 is close to the relative dispersion parameterizations.The most appropriate constant shape parameters are recommended for different hydrometeors.The relative dispersion parameterizations developed here shed new light for further optimizing the terminal velocity parameterizations in models.

三参数冰相云微物理方案在CIESM模式中的应用

由于云的时空尺度非常宽广,云微物理参数化方案一直是气候模式中的薄弱环节.本文借鉴中尺度模式云微物理方案从双参数向三参数扩展的思路方法,发展了联合地球系统模式(Community Integrated Earth System Model,CIESM)三参数冰相云微物理方案,弥补了默认双参数方案不能预报冰晶粒径分布谱形参数(μ)的不足,进而分析了双、三参数方案对气候模拟的影响.模拟结果表明,相较于双参数方案(μ为0),三参数方案预报得出的μ更为合理,其在垂直分布上整体呈现出“高层小低层大”的特点,高层的低值主要是由于冰晶核化以及较大的冰晶粒子沉降后粒子之间相互混合导致的,而低层的高值主要是由于冰晶粒子在沉降过程中的粒子分选机制导致的.与双、三参数方案中μ的差异相呼应,模式模拟的气候平均态出现明显差异,其中三参数方案模拟的总云云量、低云云量、中云云量和总降水相较于双参数方案更接近观测结果,高云云量的误差增大.其中总降水的改进主要是由于高云云量的增加,大气稳定度增加,对流性降水减少.此外,还调整了相关参数,以改善模式对辐射的模拟能力.总之,本文在全球气候模式中评估了双、三参数方案对于模拟气候平均态的不同影响,为气候模式中云微物理方案的发展改进提供了一定的参考意义.

Improvement of cloud microphysical parameterization and its advantages in simulating precipitation along the Sichuan-Xizang Railway

The Sichuan-Xizang Railway is an important part of the railway network in China, and geological disasters, such as mountain floods and landslides, frequently occur in this region. Precipitation is an important cause of these disasters;therefore,accurate simulation of the precipitation in this region is highly important. In this study, the descriptions for uncertain processes in the cloud microphysics scheme are improved;these processes include cloud droplet activation, cloud-rain autoconversion, rain accretion by cloud droplets, and the entrainment-mixing process. In the default scheme, the cloud water content of different sizes corresponds to the same cloud droplet concentration, which is inconsistent with the actual content;this results in excessive cloud droplet size, unreasonable related conversion rates of microphysical process(such as cloud-rain autoconversion), and an overestimation of precipitation. Our new scheme overcomes the problem of excessive cloud droplet size. The processes of cloudrain autoconversion and rain accretion by cloud droplets are similar to the stochastic collection equation, and the mixing mechanism of cloud droplets is more consistent with that occurred during the actual physical process in the cloud. Based on the new and old schemes, multiple precipitation processes in the flood season of 2021 along the Sichuan-Xizang Railway are simulated, and the results are evaluated using ground observations and satellite data. Compared to the default scheme, the new scheme is more suitable for the simulation of cloud physics, reducing the simulation deviation of the liquid water path and droplet radius from 2 times to less than 1 time and significantly alleviating the overestimation of precipitation intensity and range of precipitation center. The average root-mean-square error is reduced by 22%. Our results can provide a scientific reference for improving precipitation forecasting and disaster prevention in this region.

三参数冰相云微物理方案的构建及在单柱大气模式中的应用

云微物理的参数化对天气及气候的准确模拟至关重要,其中云粒子谱分布特征通过改变云演化发展和云辐射效应,必然进一步影响气候模拟.目前广泛使用的双参数云微物理方案,无法预报云粒子谱分布的谱形参数,阻碍了气候模式对云物理过程的准确描述.鉴于此,本文在单柱大气模式SCAM5.3(Single Column Atmosphere Model,Version 5.3)中增加雷达反射率因子的预报方程,构建了三参数冰相云微物理方案,实现了冰晶粒子谱分布谱形参数的预报.利用该模式,模拟了大气辐射观测计划在1997年夏季实施的为期29 d的观测个例(ARM97),分析了双、三参数方案对云量和辐射的模拟差异.结果表明:首先,三参数方案预报的冰晶粒子谱的谱形参数主要集中在0~4,峰值在2左右,至少有85%的μ都大于默认的0.其次,与双参数方案相比,三参数方案对云量的模拟更接近观测;利用辐射通量密度的观测值进行评估,发现无论是短波还是长波辐射通量密度,三参数方案的误差都比双参数方案小.最后,揭示了三参数方案对云量和辐射模拟效果的改进机理:主要是因为三参数方案减弱了冰晶到雪的自动转化过程,增强了冰晶凝华增长过程,从而增大了冰晶浓度和冰云云量.本文构建的三参数冰相云微物理方案,将有利于增强模式对云-气候反馈等过程的模拟能力.

Review of Chinese atmospheric science research over the past 70 years: Atmospheric physics and atmospheric environment

Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China 70 years ago,the subject of atmospheric physics and atmospheric environment has developed rapidly in China,providing important support for the development of atmospheric science and guarantee for the development of national economy.In this paper,the general advancement of atmospheric physics and atmospheric environment in last 70 years was described.The main research progress of atmospheric physics and atmospheric environment in the past 40 years of reform and opening-up was reviewed,the outstanding research achievements since the 21 st century were summarized,the major problems and challenges are pointed out,and the key directions and suggestions for future development are put forward.

Observational study of the physical and chemical characteristics of the winter radiation fog in the tropical rainforest in Xishuangbanna, China

We conducted a three-month field experiment focusing on the physical and chemical characteristics of fog in a tropical rainforest in Xishuangbanna,Southwest China,in the winter of 2019.In general,the fog would form at midnight and persist because of the increased long-wave radiative cooling combined with the high relative humidity,gentle breeze,and a relatively low aerosol number concentration in the forest;the fog would dissipate before noon due to the increasing turbulence near the surface.This diurnal cycle is typical for radiation fog.The microphysical fog properties included a relatively low number concentration of the fog droplet,large droplet size,high liquid water content,narrow droplet number-size distribution,and high supersaturation.The chemical properties showed that the fog water was slightly alkaline with low electrical conductivity,whereas the highest proportions of anions and cations therein were Cl^(−)and Ca^(2+),respectively;the chemical components were enriched in small fog droplets.In addition,we indirectly calculated the fog supersaturation according to theκ-Köhler theory.We found that condensation broadens the droplet number-size distribution at relatively low supersaturation,which is positively correlated with the fog-droplet number concentration and negatively correlated with the droplet mean-volume diameter;this affects the key microphysical processes of fog.

The scattering mechanism of squall lines with C-Band dual polarization radar.Part Ⅱ:the mechanism of an abnormal ZDR echo in clear air based on the parameterization of turbulence deformation

In part I,the clear air echo in front of the squall line is caused by turbulence diffraction,which makes the Z_(DR) echo characteristics different from particle scattering.To study the turbulence deformation phenomenon that is affected by environmental wind,the turbulence-related method is used to analyze the characteristics of three-dimensional turbulence energy spectrum density,and the parametric model of turbulence integral length scale and environmental wind speed is established.The results show that the horizontal scale of turbulence is generally larger than the vertical scale.The turbulence is nearly isotropic in the horizontal direction,presenting a flat ellipsoid with the vertical orientation of the rotation axis when there is no horizontal wind or the horizontal velocity is small.When horizontal wind exists,the turbulence scale increases along the dominant wind direction.The turbulence scale is positively correlated with the wind speed.The power function is used to fit the relationships of turbulence integral length scale and horizontal wind speed,which obtains the best fitting effect,and the goodness of fit(GF)is above 0.99 in each direction.The deforming turbulence can cause 8-9 dB Z_(DR) anomalies in the echo of dual polarization radar,which the ratio of scales in the dominant wind and the vertical direction of deforming turbulence(L_(u)/L_(w))is around 4.3.The variation in Z_(DR) depends on the turbulence shape,orientation and the relative position between turbulence and radar.The shape of turbulence derived from radar detection results is consistent with that of the parametric model,which can provide a parametric scheme for turbulence research.The results reveal the mechanism of abnormal Z_(DR) echo caused by deforming turbulence.