The effect of aerosols on the onset of precipitation

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Description

This work examines the theory of the Second Indirect Effect of Aerosols by analyzing cloud properties at the onset of precipitation. Using data from three ARM mobile and permanent facilities, cloud properties are statistically correlated with several environmental factors, including CCN (Cloud Condensation Nuclei) concentration and dynamical attributes such as stability and wind speed, in order to determine the effects of aerosols on the onset of precipitation, as well as whether these effects are dependent on dynamical situations. Cloud lifetimes and thicknesses are tracked alongside CCN concentrations in order to determine their effect on these cloud properties. Drop size distributions, liquid water contents, water vapor contents, and rain rates within the cloud (retrieved from a W-band radar reflectivity) are statistically correlated with CCN concentrations to determine any possible relationships between them. In order to increase the robustness of the results, these analyses will be performed on many cases from three sites spaced around the globe, therefore also testing the robustness of the Second Indirect Effect Theory.