Record Details

Refinements to Ice Particle Mass Dimensional and Terminal Velocity Relationships for Ice Clouds. Part I: Temperature Dependence

ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University

Field Value
Title Refinements to Ice Particle Mass Dimensional and Terminal Velocity Relationships for Ice Clouds. Part I: Temperature Dependence
Names Heymsfield, Andrew J. (creator)
Bansemer, Aaron (creator)
Twohy, Cynthia (creator)
Date Issued 2007-04 (iso8601)
Abstract This two-part study attempts to find appropriate mass dimension and terminal velocity relationships that,
when considered together with particle size distributions (PSD), agree with coincident measurements of ice
water content (IWC), and with variables related to higher moments such as the mean mass-weighted fall
speed. Reliable relationships are required for improving microphysical parameterizations for weather forecast
models and developing methods for evaluating them, subjects addressed in detail in Part II of this study.
Here, a range of values from 1.5 to 2.3 is assumed for the exponent b in the mass dimension relationship,
m = aD[superscript]b, where D is the maximum particle dimension, to bound its likely value for sizes above about 100
m. Measured IWC and size spectra are used to find appropriate values for the coefficient a. It is demonstrated
that all values of the exponent b, with appropriate a coefficients, can fit the IWC measurements.
Coincident information on particle cross-sectional areas with the m(D) relationships is used to develop
general fall velocity relationships of the form Vt[subscript]t = AD[superscript]B. These assessments use five midlatitude, synoptically
generated ice layers, and 10 low-latitude, convectively generated ice cloud layers, spanning the temperature
range from -60° to 0°C.
The coefficients a and A and exponent B are represented in terms of the exponent b and are shown to
be temperature-dependent for the synoptic clouds and relatively independent of it in the convective clouds,
a result of particle mixing through the cloud column. Consistency is found with earlier results and with
analytic considerations. It is found that the fall velocity is inversely proportional
Genre Article
Topic Ice clouds
Identifier Heymsfield, Andrew J., Aaron Bansemer, Cynthia H. Twohy, 2007: Refinements to Ice Particle Mass Dimensional and Terminal Velocity Relationships for Ice Clouds. Part I: Temperature Dependence. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, 64(4), 1047–1067.

© Western Waters Digital Library - GWLA member projects - Designed by the J. Willard Marriott Library - Hosted by Oregon State University Libraries and Press