The role of turbulent fluctuations in aerosol activation and cloud formation
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-8-2020
Department
Department of Physics; Atmospheric Sciences
Abstract
Aerosol indirect effects are one of the leading contributors to cloud radiative properties relevant to climate. Aerosol particles become cloud droplets when the ambient relative humidity (saturation ratio) exceeds a critical value, which depends on the particle size and chemical composition. In the traditional formulation of this problem, only average, uniform saturation ratios are considered. Using experiments and theory, we examine the effects of fluctuations, produced by turbulence. Our measurements, from a multiphase, turbulent cloud chamber, show a clear transition from a regime in which the mean saturation ratio dominates to one in which the fluctuations determine cloud properties. The laboratory measurements demonstrate cloud formation in mean-subsaturated conditions (i.e., relative humidity
Publication Title
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of American
Recommended Citation
Prabhakaran, P.,
Shawon, A. M.,
Kinney, G.,
Thomas, S.,
Cantrell, W.,
&
Shaw, R.
(2020).
The role of turbulent fluctuations in aerosol activation and cloud formation.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of American.
http://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2006426117
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/2051