The development of ice in a cumulus cloud over southwest England

Abstract

An experiment involving the FAAM BAe 146 aircraft, called the ICE and Precipitation Initiation in Cumulus (ICEPIC) project, was conducted in order to measure the microphysical properties of UK summertime cumulus clouds. A line of clouds was penetrated near the ascending tops. Higher concentrations of ice particles than expected from activation on typical ice nuclei using the Meyers formula were observed at relatively high temperatures (T>-10 °C). The observations of numerous ice particles and the coexistence of both small and large cloud droplets, pristine ice columns and graupel pellets within the temperature zone of -3 to -9 °C strongly suggested the Hallett–Mossop (HM) process of splintering during riming. Agreement between the calculated and observed rates of splinter production supported this suggestion. The Model of Aerosols and Chemistry in Convective Clouds (MAC3) was utilized to establish a quantitative understanding of the observed development of glaciation of this cloud. The results of the model confirmed the important role of the HM process. They also showed that the warm rain process was fundamental to the production of graupel in the cloud studied, and hence the HM ice particles. A sensitivity test with double the concentration of aerosol particles showed that the concentration of supercooled raindrops decreased as expected, which resulted in fewer graupel particles and a smaller quantity of precipitation, which was delayed by about 5 min. However, the production rate of secondary ice particles generated by the HM process increased due to the increased concentration of small cloud droplets.