Theoretical experiments on cumulus dynamics and glaciation

Lloyd Randall Koenig, Francis W. Murray

ResearchPublished 1979

A study of the interdependence of cumulus cloud microphysical and dynamical properties using an axially symmetric numerical model and two soundings, one producing cumuli having warm bases, the other cold bases. Liquid phase microphysical properties exerted strong control over the dynamical evolution of the warm-base clouds. Analysis of the components of forces showed this to be primarily due to changes in the height of the condensate loading force. In agreement with nature, ice multiplication was much more active in the warm-base clouds than in the cold-base clouds. Glaciation was rather insensitive to ice-nucleus concentration, for ice-multiplication tended to equalize ice particle concentrations. The work supports the contention that rime-splintering ice-multiplication mechanism similar to one found in laboratory work operates in nature.

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Koenig, Lloyd Randall and Francis W. Murray, Theoretical experiments on cumulus dynamics and glaciation. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1979. https://www.rand.org/pubs/reports/R2424.html.
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