Title

Simple approximations for condensational growth

Authors

A. B. Kostinski, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-19-2009

Abstract

A simple geometric argument relating to the liquid water content of clouds is given. The phase relaxation time and the nature of the quasi-steady approximation for the diffusional growth of cloud drops are elucidated directly in terms of water vapor concentration. Spatial gradients of vapor concentration, inherent in the notion of quasi-steady growth, are discussed and we argue for an occasional reversal of the traditional point of view: rather than a drop growing in response to a given supersaturation, the observed values of the supersaturation in clouds are the result of a vapor field adjusting to droplet growth. Our perspective is illustrated by comparing the exponential decay of condensation trails with a quasi-steady regime of cirrus clouds. The role of aerosol loading in decreasing relaxation times and increasing the rate of growth of the liquid water content is also discussed.

Publisher's Statement

© 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd. Article deposited here in compliance with publisher policies. Publisher’s version of record: https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/4/1/015005

Publication Title

Environmental Research Letters

Recommended Citation

Kostinski, A. B. (2009). Simple approximations for condensational growth. Environmental Research Letters, 4(1), 1-5. http://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/4/1/015005
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/physics-fp/211

Version

Publisher's PDF