Abstract
Abstract Relative dispersion of ice crystals was measured in 30 seeded cumulus clouds. A quasi-instantaneous, vertical area source of ice was generated by releasing dry-ice pellets from an airplane. The ice concentration distribution and relative dispersion were measured normal to the source and were complemented by cloud turbulence measurements, namely, velocity variances and the energy dissipation rate ϵ. The clouds were selected based on an objective set of criteria and were treated as members of the same ensemble. The observed mean relative dispersion σrx agreed well with predictions from a Lagrangian stochastic two-particle model, which reproduces Batchelor's theoretical results for σrx. For short times t after the seeding time ts, the predictions and observations suggested a growth like σrx ∝ t − ts rather than Batchelor's “intermediate” time prediction, σrx ∝ ϵ1/2 (t − ts)3/2. This difference was attributed to the rather large initial dispersion σ0 of ice crystals, 2753 m, inferred from the measur...
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.
