Theoretical framework for measuring cloud effective supersaturation fluctuations with an advanced optical system
<p>Supersaturation is crucial in cloud physics, determining aerosol activation and influencing cloud droplet size distributions, yet its measurement remains challenging and poorly constrained. This study proposes a theoretical framework to simultaneously observe critical activation diameter an...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/1163/2025/acp-25-1163-2025.pdf |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832583066142375936 |
|---|---|
| author | Y. Kuang J. Tao H. Xu L. Liu P. Liu W. Xu W. Xu Y. Sun C. Zhao |
| author_facet | Y. Kuang J. Tao H. Xu L. Liu P. Liu W. Xu W. Xu Y. Sun C. Zhao |
| author_sort | Y. Kuang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Supersaturation is crucial in cloud physics, determining aerosol activation and influencing cloud droplet size distributions, yet its measurement remains challenging and poorly constrained. This study proposes a theoretical framework to simultaneously observe critical activation diameter and hygroscopicity of activated aerosols through direct measurements of scattering and water-induced scattering enhancement of interstitial and activated aerosols, enabling effective supersaturation measurements. Advanced optical systems based on this framework allow minute- to second-level effective supersaturation measurements, capturing fluctuations vital to cloud microphysics. Although currently limited to clouds with supersaturations below <span class="inline-formula">∼</span> 0.2 % due to small scattering signals from sub-100 nm aerosols, advancements in optical sensors could extend its applicability. Its suitability for long-term measurements allows for climatological studies of fogs and mountain clouds. When equipped with aerial vehicles, the system could also measure aloft clouds. Therefore, the proposed theory serves as a valuable method for both short-term and long-term cloud microphysics and aerosol–cloud interaction studies.</p> |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-11e9ae14c0d3428cbd8f91d6df6e710d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj-art-11e9ae14c0d3428cbd8f91d6df6e710d2025-01-29T05:01:14ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242025-01-01251163117410.5194/acp-25-1163-2025Theoretical framework for measuring cloud effective supersaturation fluctuations with an advanced optical systemY. Kuang0J. Tao1H. Xu2L. Liu3P. Liu4W. Xu5W. Xu6Y. Sun7C. Zhao8Institute for Environmental and Climate Research, College of Environment and Climate, Jinan University, Guangzhou, ChinaInstitute for Environmental and Climate Research, College of Environment and Climate, Jinan University, Guangzhou, ChinaSchool of Computer Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, ChinaKey Laboratory of Regional Numerical Weather Prediction, Institute of Tropical and Marine Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, Guangzhou, ChinaSchool of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USAState Key Laboratory of Severe Weather, Key Laboratory for Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Composition, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China<p>Supersaturation is crucial in cloud physics, determining aerosol activation and influencing cloud droplet size distributions, yet its measurement remains challenging and poorly constrained. This study proposes a theoretical framework to simultaneously observe critical activation diameter and hygroscopicity of activated aerosols through direct measurements of scattering and water-induced scattering enhancement of interstitial and activated aerosols, enabling effective supersaturation measurements. Advanced optical systems based on this framework allow minute- to second-level effective supersaturation measurements, capturing fluctuations vital to cloud microphysics. Although currently limited to clouds with supersaturations below <span class="inline-formula">∼</span> 0.2 % due to small scattering signals from sub-100 nm aerosols, advancements in optical sensors could extend its applicability. Its suitability for long-term measurements allows for climatological studies of fogs and mountain clouds. When equipped with aerial vehicles, the system could also measure aloft clouds. Therefore, the proposed theory serves as a valuable method for both short-term and long-term cloud microphysics and aerosol–cloud interaction studies.</p>https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/1163/2025/acp-25-1163-2025.pdf |
| spellingShingle | Y. Kuang J. Tao H. Xu L. Liu P. Liu W. Xu W. Xu Y. Sun C. Zhao Theoretical framework for measuring cloud effective supersaturation fluctuations with an advanced optical system Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | Theoretical framework for measuring cloud effective supersaturation fluctuations with an advanced optical system |
| title_full | Theoretical framework for measuring cloud effective supersaturation fluctuations with an advanced optical system |
| title_fullStr | Theoretical framework for measuring cloud effective supersaturation fluctuations with an advanced optical system |
| title_full_unstemmed | Theoretical framework for measuring cloud effective supersaturation fluctuations with an advanced optical system |
| title_short | Theoretical framework for measuring cloud effective supersaturation fluctuations with an advanced optical system |
| title_sort | theoretical framework for measuring cloud effective supersaturation fluctuations with an advanced optical system |
| url | https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/1163/2025/acp-25-1163-2025.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ykuang theoreticalframeworkformeasuringcloudeffectivesupersaturationfluctuationswithanadvancedopticalsystem AT jtao theoreticalframeworkformeasuringcloudeffectivesupersaturationfluctuationswithanadvancedopticalsystem AT hxu theoreticalframeworkformeasuringcloudeffectivesupersaturationfluctuationswithanadvancedopticalsystem AT lliu theoreticalframeworkformeasuringcloudeffectivesupersaturationfluctuationswithanadvancedopticalsystem AT pliu theoreticalframeworkformeasuringcloudeffectivesupersaturationfluctuationswithanadvancedopticalsystem AT wxu theoreticalframeworkformeasuringcloudeffectivesupersaturationfluctuationswithanadvancedopticalsystem AT wxu theoreticalframeworkformeasuringcloudeffectivesupersaturationfluctuationswithanadvancedopticalsystem AT ysun theoreticalframeworkformeasuringcloudeffectivesupersaturationfluctuationswithanadvancedopticalsystem AT czhao theoreticalframeworkformeasuringcloudeffectivesupersaturationfluctuationswithanadvancedopticalsystem |