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Field studies of the optical and microphysical characteristics of clouds enveloping Great Dun Fell
Author(s) -
Choularton T. W.,
Consterdine I. E.,
Gardiner B. A.,
Gay M. J.,
Hill M. K.,
Latham J.,
Stromberg I. M.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
quarterly journal of the royal meteorological society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.744
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1477-870X
pISSN - 0035-9009
DOI - 10.1002/qj.49711247108
Subject(s) - entrainment (biomusicology) , atmospheric sciences , turbulence , environmental science , meteorology , cloud base , humidity , geology , cloud computing , physics , rhythm , acoustics , computer science , operating system
Abstract In an effort to study aspects of their evolution, simultaneous measurements have been made, in two separate studies, of the microphysical properties of cap clouds over Great Dun Fell, in Cumbria, at two vertically displaced sites along the line of the wind. Dynamical, optical (10.6 γm) and acoustic sounder measurements were also made. Influences upon the cloud properties of humidity fluctuations near to cloud base, turbulent deposition of droplets to ground, additional activation caused by orographically induced accelerations within the clouds, entrainment of environmental air and long‐wave radiation to space were identified and examined. The clouds studied exhibited structure in their microphysical and optical properties on all scales from a few metres to several hundred metres. The cloud model of Carruthers and Choularton was found to predict the optical and microphysical characteristics of clouds not significantly influenced by entrainment, to a reasonable degree of accuracy.