Abstract
The evolution of cloud microstructure initiated by hygroscopic seeding is studied on the basis of numerical simulation of cloud formation in the initial stage of condensation. The influence of both physicochemical properties of atmospheric aerosol and atmospheric conditions controlling the cloud type on the microstructure of a developing cloud (without hygroscopic seeding) is analyzed. It is shown that cloud seeding with additional particles whose sizes exceed the characteristic size of atmospheric condensation nuclei leads to a decrease in the concentration of cloud droplets and an increase in their sizes. This result of cloud seeding represents a positive effect for stimulation of precipitation from convective clouds. It is shown that this positive effect is achieved if there are some relationships between the parameters characterizing the hygroscopic particles and the atmospheric conditions. In particular, the maximum effect of action can be achieved at some optimal concentration of seeded particles. The decrease in the concentration of cloud droplets because of hygroscopic seeding is compared to the results of numerical simulations performed by other authors with allowance for coagulation processes in clouds. It is shown that this decrease can serve as an estimate for the effectiveness of hygroscopic seeding as a means for artificial intensification of precipitation from convective clouds.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
G. K. Mather, D. E. Terblanche, F. E. Steffens, and L. Fletcher, “Results of South African Cloud-Seeding Experiments Using Hygroscopic Flares,” J. Appl. Meteorol. 36, 1433–1447 (1997).
D. E. Terblanche, F. E. Steffens, L. Fletcher, et al., “Toward the Operation Application of Hygroscopic Flares for Rainfall Enhancement in South Africa,” J. Appl. Meteorol. 39, 1811–1821 (2000).
B. A. Silverman, “An Independent Statistical Revaluation of the South African Hygroscopic Flares Seeding Experiment,” J. Appl. Meteorol. 39, 1373–1378 (2000).
S. M. Shmeter and G. P. Beryulev, “Efficiency of Artificial Modification of Clouds and Precipitation with the Aid of Hygroscopic Aerosols,” Meteorol. Gidrol., No. 2, 43–60 (2005).
W. L. Woodley and D. Rosenfield, “The Development and Testing of a New Method to Evaluate the Operation Cloud Seeding Program in Texas,” J. Appl. Meteorol. 43, 249–263 (2004).
B. A. Silverman and W. Sukarnjanaset, “Results of the Thailand Warm-Cloud Hygroscopic Particle Seeding Experiment,” J. Appl. Meteorol. 39, 1160–1175 (2000).
W. A. Cooper, R. T. Bruintjes, and G. K. Mather, “Some Calculations Pertaining to Hygroscopic Seeding with Flares,” J. Appl. Meteorol. 36, 1449–1469 (1997).
Y. Segal, A. Khain, M. Pinsky, and D. Rosenfield, “Effect of Hygroscopic Seeding on Raindrop Formation As Seen from Simulation Using a 2000 Bin Spectral Cloud Parcel Model,” Atmos. Res. 71, 3–34 (2004).
S. A. Vladimirov, “Numerical Simulation of Action on Cloud Formation in Convective Clouds with the Aid of Seeding with Hygroscopic Aerosols,” Meteorol. Gidrol., No. 1, 58–69 (2005).
Y. Yin, T. G. Reisin, S. Tzivion, and Z. Levin, “Seeding Convective Clouds with Hygroscopic Flares: Numerical Simulation Using a Model with Detailed Microphysics,” J. Appl. Meteorol. 39, 1460–1472 (2000).
Yu. S. Sedunov, Physics of Forming the Liquid-Droplet Phase in the Atmosphere (Gidrometeoizdat, Leningrad, 1972) [in Russian].
E. L. Aleksandrov and N. V. Klepikova, “Effect of Artificial Condensation Nuclei on the Development of the Cloud Spectrum,” Tr. Inst. Eksp. Meteorol., No. 9(52), 3–15 (1975).
L. T. Matveev, Course of General Meteorology. Atmospheric Physics (Gidrometizdat, Leningrad, 1984) [in Russian].
A. G. Laktionov, Equilibrium Heterogeneous Condensation (Gidrometeoizdat, Leningrad, 1988) [in Russian].
P. Reist, Introduction to Aerosol Science (Macmillan, New York, 1984; Mir, Moscow, 1987).
N. P. Romanov, “Analytical Representation of the van’t Hoff Factor for Aqeous Solutions of Strong Electrolytes,” Izv. Akad. Nauk, Fiz. Atmos. Okeana 41, 704–716 (2005) [Izv., Atmos. Ocean. Phys. 41, 641–651 (2005)].
V. M. Drozdova, “Characteristics of the Mineralization and Chemical Composition of Water of Atmospheric Precipitation in Different Places of the USSR” Tr. Gl. Geofiz. Obs. im. A.I. Voeikova, No. 134, 26–32 (1962).
C. M. Stevenson, “An Analysis of the Chemical Composition of Rain-Water and Air over the British Isles,” Q. G. R. Meteorol. Soc. 94(399), 56–70 (1968).
B. Mason, The Physics of Clouds (Clarendon, Oxford, 1957; Gidrometeoizdat, Leningrad, 1961).
C. Yunge, Air Chemistry and Radioactivity (New York, 1963; Mir, Moscow, 1965).
Atmosphere. Handbook (Data, Models) (Gidrometeoizdat, Leningrad, 1991) [in Russian].
O. A. Volkovitskii and Yu. S. Sedunov, “Calculating the Concentration of Droplets and Maximum Supersaturation at the Initial Stage of Cloud Formation,” Meteorol. Gidrol., No. 1, 19–30 (1970).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Original Russian Text © A.S. Drofa, 2006, published in Izvestiya AN. Fizika Atmosfery i Okeana, 2006, Vol. 42, No. 3, pp. 355–366.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Drofa, A.S. Formation of cloud microstructure during hygroscopic seeding. Izv. Atmos. Ocean. Phys. 42, 326–336 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001433806030066
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001433806030066