Abstract
AbstractClimate models generally simulate a unidirectional, positive liquid water path (LWP) response to increasing aerosol number concentration. However, satellite observations and large‐eddy simulations show that the LWP may either increase or decrease with increasing aerosol concentration, influencing the overall magnitude of the aerosol indirect effect (AIE). We use large‐eddy simulation to investigate the LWP response of a marine stratocumulus cloud and its dependence on different parameterizations for obtaining cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC). The simulations confirm that the LWP response is not always positive—regardless of CDNC treatment. However, the AIE simulated with the model version with prescribed CDNC is almost 3 times larger compared to the version with prognostic CDNC. The reason is that the CDNC in the prognostic scheme varies in time due to supersaturation fluctuations, collection, and other microphysical processes. A substantial spread in simulated AIE may thus arise simply due to the CDNC treatment.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
