Continuous growth of droplet size variance due to condensation in\n turbulent clouds

2015/01/28 by Gaetano Sardina, Sardina, Gaetano, Francesco Picano +5 · 1 citation
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Engineering · Environmental Science · #Aeolian processes and effects #Atmospheric aerosols and clouds #FOS: Physical sciences #Fluid Dynamics (physics.flu-dyn) #Particle Dynamics in Fluid Flows

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1501.07051

openalex publication_date 2015/01/28 · openalex created_date 2022/10/01 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

We use a stochastic model and direct numerical simulation to study the impact\nof turbulence on cloud droplet growth by condensation. We show that the\nvariance of the droplet size distribution increases in time as t^1/2, with\ngrowth rate proportional to the large-to-small turbulent scale separation and\nto the turbulence integral scales but independent of the mean turbulent\ndissipation. Direct numerical simulations confirm this result and produce\nrealistically broad droplet size spectra over time intervals of 20 minutes,\ncomparable with the time of rain formation.\n

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