0000000000285930
AUTHOR
H.r. Pruppacher
Cloud Particle Interactions
In Chapter 10, we discussed the behavior of isolated cloud particles in sorne detai1. Now we shall consider their hydrodynamic interactions, with a view to providing a quantitative assessment of the processes of particle growth by collision and coalescence, and of collisional breakup. We shall first treat the collision problem for drops of radii less than about 500 μm which, in accordance with our previous description of drop distortion in Section 10.3.2, may be regarded as rigid spheres (at least when falling in isolation). This will be followed by a discussion of the phenomena of drop coalescence and breakup. Finally, we shall consider water drop-ice crystal and ice crystal-ice crystal in…
A laboratory study on the uptake of HCl, HNO3, and SO2 gas by ice crystals and the effect of these gases on the evaporation rate of the crystals
The results of our new and earlier laboratory studies on the uptake of gases by ice crystals are summarized in terms of (1) the equilibrium phase diagram for a system gas/H2O, (2) the effect of these gases on the evaporation rate of ice crystals, and (3) in terms of the uptake of the gases by water drops. It is shown that the intrinsic quasi-liquid layer significantly affects the uptake of a gas by an ice surface in that, depending on the gas phase concentration, the layer thickness may be considerably increased by depressing the equilibrium freezing point causing additional surface melting. It is further shown that the evaporation rate of ice particles previously exposed to a gas may becom…
Growth of Cloud Drops by Collision, Coalescence and Breakup
As we have already learned from our brief historical review in Chapter 1, it has long been established that the presence of ice is not always necessary for precipitation formation in clouds. In more recent times, radar observations have confirmed this early conclusion. In such cases, the flow of water up the spectrum from small droplets to rain must occur by the process of collision and coalescence of drops. This is often referred to as the collection process, and sometimes erroneously as the ‘warm rain’ process. The latter designation is somewhat inappropriate, since collection growth also occurs in clouds colder than 0°C (Braham, 1964).
The processing of water vapor and aerosols by atmospheric clouds, a global estimate
Recent data published in literature on global cloudiness and precipitation as well as data on updrafts in clouds and their liquid water contents allow us to estimate the global turnover of water vapor and liquid water in the atmosphere. From these turnover rates the global average capacity of clouds to uptake, store and release atmospheric aerosol mass and the rate of wet deposition on the ground was estimated. The results of such an estimate suggest that clouds contribute significantly to the processing of aerosol material in the atmosphere as they constitute an important temporary storage location for it. Although the contribution of aerosol mass resulting from a single evaporation of the…
A wind tunnel study on the drop-to-particle conversion
Abstract An experimental study was carried out to investigate the processes which occur during drop-to-particle conversion in atmospheric clouds whose drops are evaporating. The experiment was carried out in the Mainz vertical wind tunnel and in a 4-m high fall shaft. Drops consisting of aqueous solutions of NaCl, (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 , and salts of artificial and natural ocean water, containing various kinds of solid, water-insoluble particles such as clays, were studied. The aerosol particles produced by the evaporation of drops had diameters in the range 0.1–1 μm, 5–20 μm, 40–80 μm and 100–300 μm. The shape and fall mode of these particles are discussed. It was found that the aerosol particles…
A laboratory study of the uptake of HNO3 and HCl vapor by snow crystals and ice spheres at temperatures between 0 and −40°C
Abstract A laboratory experiment is described during which the uptake of HNO3 and HCl vapor by dendritic snow crystals and by single crystalline and polycrystalline small ice spheres was studied at ppbv and ppmv gas levels and at temperatures between 0 and −40°C. In one experimental investigation the vapor was allowed to be adsorbed onto the surface of the ice particles. During another experimental investigation the ice particles were allowed to grow from water vapor on fine fibers in the presence of the HNO3 and HCl vapor. The results of our experiments show that under both conditions significant amounts of HNO3 and HCl became scavenged by the ice particles. Scavenging by adsorption was ma…
A laboratory study on the scavenging of SO2 by snow crystals
Abstract A laboratory experiment is described where the uptake of SO2 by dendritic snow crystals was studied. In a first experimental series the uptake of SO2 was investigated during the growth of the snow crystals from water vapor with and without the presence of H2O2 in the air. In a second series of experiments we studied the uptake of SO2 by snow crystals which had completed their growth. The results of our experiments showed that under both conditions SO2 became scavenged by snow crystals. The uptake of SO2 was particularly pronounced during the growth of the snow crystals, and at temperatures close to 0°C where a quasi-liquid layer exists at the surface of ice. As expected, the SO2 up…
Growth of Ice Particles by Accretion and Ice Particle Melting
In Chapter 13, we discussed the growth of snow crystals by vapor diffusion, and in Chapter 14, we described the manner with which snow crystals interact with other snow crystals and with drops. In this chapter, we shalllook closer at the growth of ice particles by the accretion of supercooled drops, at the formation of snow flakes by the collision of snow crystals, and also consider the physics of melting of individual ice particles.
The Atmospheric Aerosol and Trace Gases
From Chapter 6, it is evident that an understanding of the cloud forming processes in the atmosphere requires knowledge of the physical and chemical characteristics of the atmospheric aerosol. In dicussing this gaseous suspension of solid and liquid particles, it is customary to include all gases except water vapor, and all solid and liquid particles except hydrometeors, i.e., cloud and raindrops, and ice particles.