A study by NSF NCAR researchers shows that turbulence significantly speeds up rain formation in clouds, based on advanced simulations and data from a NASA field campaign. This discovery is crucial for improving weather and climate forecasts.
New findings have the potential to enhance computer models used for weather and climate prediction.
For decades, scientists have sought to unravel the intricate and enigmatic sequence of events that allow tiny droplets in clouds to grow large enough to fall to the ground. Gaining a deeper understanding of this process, known as the “rain formation bottleneck,” is crucial for enhancing computer model simulations of weather and climate, which in turn leads to more accurate forecasts.
Now a research team led by scientists at the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR) has found that the turbulent movements of air in clouds play a key role in the growth of droplets and the initiation of rain.
The researchers applied advanced computer modeling to detailed observations of droplets in cumulus clouds that were taken during a DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2319664121
This material is based upon work supported by the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research, a major facility sponsored by the U.S. National Science Foundation and managed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.