Evidence of mineral dust altering cloud microphysics and precipitation

Q. L. Min, R. Li, B. Lin, E. Joseph, S. Wang, Y. Hu, V. Morris, F. Chang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

93 Scopus citations

Abstract

Multi-platform and multi-sensor observations are employed to investigate the impact of mineral dust on cloud microphysical and precipitation processes in mesoscale convective systems. For a given convective strength, small hydrometeors were more prevalent in the stratiform rain regions with dust than in those regions that were dust free. Evidence of abundant cloud ice particles in the dust sector, particularly at altitudes where heterogeneous nucleation of mineral dust prevails, further supports the observed changes of precipitation. The consequences of the microphysical effects of the dust aerosols were to shift the precipitation size spectrum from heavy precipitation to light precipitation and ultimately suppressing precipitation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3223-3231
Number of pages9
JournalAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Volume9
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - May 12 2009
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atmospheric Science

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