Influence of Mass and Radius of Ice Crystals on Hydrometeors, Internal Energy, and Kinetic Energy: A Numeric Model Study

Abstract

AbstractTwo cloud-scale experiments with two different ice-phase schemes were carried out for a precipitation event that occurred in eastern China in 2005. The results were analyzed to examine the influences of the change of ice-particle mass and radius on hydrometeors, internal energy, and kinetic energy, as well as the primary factors responsible. It was found that the ice content increases notably and the snow content decreases due to the change. This is the consequence of the modulation of cloud microphysical processes. In particular, the Bergeron process and the accretion of snow and cloud ice are markedly influenced. The differences of internal energy and kinetic energy between the two experiments are caused by adjustments to pressure-flux divergence, the coupling of temperature and divergence, and gravitational work, and the reason is that these three factors result in differences of local changes of internal and kinetic energy.