Ice aspect ratio influences on mixed-phase clouds: Impacts on phase partitioning in parcel models

Abstract

[1] The influences of evolving ice habit on the maintenance and glaciation of stratiform mixed-phase clouds are examined theoretically. Unlike most current modeling methods where a single axis length is predicted, the primary habits, or two axis lengths, are computed explicitly. The method produces a positive non-linear feedback between mass growth and crystal aspect ratio evolution. Furthermore, ice particle growth has a distinct initial-size dependence with smaller initial ice particles evolving into more extreme crystal shapes with greater overall mass. This feedback cannot be captured with simpler growth methods, leading to underestimates of ice growth and mixed-phase glaciation. Aspect ratio prediction is most critical for mixed-phase maintenance at temperatures where pronounced habits exist (dendritic growth, T = −15°C and needle growth, −6°C) and at ice concentrations between 1 L−1 and 100 L−1. At these temperatures and concentrations, rates of glaciation can be under-predicted by as much as an order of magnitude by equivalent density spheres. Habit prediction is less important for the maintenance of liquid at lower ice concentrations ( 100 L−1) the time-scale for liquid depletion is shorter (minutes), thus predicting crystal habit has only a small impact on liquid lifetime. Updraft strength also affects mixed-phase cloud maintenance primarily at ice concentrations between 1 L−1 and 100 L−1. It is theoretically possible for vertical oscillating motions to maintain stratiform mixed-phase clouds indefinitely when temperatures are relatively high (> −10°C) and ice concentrations are relatively low (<0.1 L−1).