Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Toward the Theory of Stochastic Condensation in Clouds. Part I: A General Kinetic Equation

Vitaly I. Khvorostyanov Department of Meteorology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah

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Judith A. Curry Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, Program in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado

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Print Publication:
01 Dec 1999
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1999)056<3985:TTTOSC>2.0.CO;2
Page(s):
3985–3996
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Abstract

In order to understand the mechanisms of formation of broad size spectra of cloud droplets and to develop a basis for the parameterization of cloud microphysical and optical properties, the authors derive a general kinetic equation of stochastic condensation that is applicable for various relationships between the supersaturation relaxation time τf and the timescale of turbulence τL. Supersaturation is considered as a nonconservative variable, and thus additional covariances and a turbulent diffusion coefficient tensor that is dependent on the supersaturation relaxation time, kij(τf), are introduced into the kinetic equation. This equation can be used in cloud models with explicit microphysics or can serve as a basis for development of parameterizations for bulk cloud models and general circulation models.

Corresponding author address: Vitaly I. Khvorostyanov, Department of Meteorology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84111.

Abstract

In order to understand the mechanisms of formation of broad size spectra of cloud droplets and to develop a basis for the parameterization of cloud microphysical and optical properties, the authors derive a general kinetic equation of stochastic condensation that is applicable for various relationships between the supersaturation relaxation time τf and the timescale of turbulence τL. Supersaturation is considered as a nonconservative variable, and thus additional covariances and a turbulent diffusion coefficient tensor that is dependent on the supersaturation relaxation time, kij(τf), are introduced into the kinetic equation. This equation can be used in cloud models with explicit microphysics or can serve as a basis for development of parameterizations for bulk cloud models and general circulation models.

Corresponding author address: Vitaly I. Khvorostyanov, Department of Meteorology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84111.

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