Article: Growth of Cloud Droplets by Turbulent Collision-Coalescence

ABSTRACT

An open question in cloud physics is how rain forms in warm cumulus as rapidly as it is sometimes observed. In particular, the growth of cloud droplets across the size gap from 10 to 50 µm in radius has not been fully explained. In this paper, the authors investigate the growth o f cloud droplets by collision-coalescence, taking into account both the gravitational mechanism and several enhancements of the collision-coalescence rate due to air turbulence. The kinetic collection equation (KCE) is solved with an accurate bin integral method and a newly developed parameterization of turbulent collection kernel derived from direct numerical simulation of droplet-laden turbulent flows. ...

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