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Measurement of Aerosols Optical Thickness of the Atmosphere using the GLOBE Handheld Sun Photometer

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Flood or drought: how do aerosols affect precipitation?

Daniel Rosenfeld¹, Ulrike Lohmann, Graciela B Raga

¹Institute of Earth Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel. daniel.rosenfeld@huji.ac.il

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|September 6, 2008

Summary

Human-made aerosols impact rainfall by acting as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). This study proposes a model explaining how both low and high aerosol concentrations affect cloud properties and precipitation.

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Composition and Distribution Analysis of Bioaerosols Under Different Environmental Conditions

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Published on: January 7, 2019

Area of Science:

Atmospheric Science
Cloud Physics
Climate Science

Background:

Aerosols are crucial as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), influencing cloud properties and precipitation.
Human-made aerosols have complex effects on rainfall, with reported decreases and increases.
Pristine clouds with low CCN rain out rapidly, while polluted clouds may not precipitate effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

To propose a conceptual model explaining the dichotomy in aerosol effects on rainfall.
To elucidate the mechanisms by which aerosol concentrations alter cloud behavior and precipitation initiation.

Main Methods:

Conceptual modeling approach.
Analysis of aerosol-cloud interactions.
Review of existing literature on aerosol impacts on cloud properties.

Main Results:

A conceptual model is presented to reconcile conflicting observations of aerosol impacts on rainfall.
The model addresses how low CCN concentrations lead to rapid rainout and high CCN concentrations can inhibit precipitation.

Conclusions:

Aerosol concentration is a critical factor modulating cloud lifetime and precipitation efficiency.
Understanding these aerosol-cloud interactions is vital for accurate climate and weather modeling.