<p>Adiabatic clouds have been assumed in many applications; however, the observed microphysics often deviates from the adiabatic state. Previous studies have been largely focused on sub-adiabaticity due to entrainment mixing. In contrast, this study identifies and examines super-adiabatic evaporation affected by entrainment mixing. By analyzing observations from the Physics of Stratocumulus Top project, we show that 26 out of 32 complete profiles exhibit super-adiabatic evaporation, which is further reproduced and investigated using the Explicit Mixing Parcel Model and Large-Eddy Simulations. The results suggest that droplet evaporation from entrainment mixing continues during descent rather than terminating at cloud top. The combination of droplet evaporation from entrainment mixing and adiabatic descent leads to super-adiabatic evaporation during descent, with liquid water content larger than corresponding adiabatic value from new cloud base. Further analysis reveals that factors both inside and outside the stratocumulus clouds significantly influence super-adiabatic evaporation. The results provide new insights into the theoretical understanding of (non-)adiabaticity and highlight the need to modify adiabatic assumption in remote sensing and atmospheric modeling.</p>

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Super-adiabatic evaporation affected by entrainment mixing in stratocumulus

  • Sinan Gao,
  • Chunsong Lu,
  • Yangang Liu,
  • Seong Soo Yum,
  • Jiashan Zhu,
  • Sheng Hu,
  • Hui Xiao,
  • Xiantong Liu,
  • Huiqi Li,
  • Lei Zhu,
  • Shang Wu,
  • Naifu Shao

摘要

Adiabatic clouds have been assumed in many applications; however, the observed microphysics often deviates from the adiabatic state. Previous studies have been largely focused on sub-adiabaticity due to entrainment mixing. In contrast, this study identifies and examines super-adiabatic evaporation affected by entrainment mixing. By analyzing observations from the Physics of Stratocumulus Top project, we show that 26 out of 32 complete profiles exhibit super-adiabatic evaporation, which is further reproduced and investigated using the Explicit Mixing Parcel Model and Large-Eddy Simulations. The results suggest that droplet evaporation from entrainment mixing continues during descent rather than terminating at cloud top. The combination of droplet evaporation from entrainment mixing and adiabatic descent leads to super-adiabatic evaporation during descent, with liquid water content larger than corresponding adiabatic value from new cloud base. Further analysis reveals that factors both inside and outside the stratocumulus clouds significantly influence super-adiabatic evaporation. The results provide new insights into the theoretical understanding of (non-)adiabaticity and highlight the need to modify adiabatic assumption in remote sensing and atmospheric modeling.