Microphysical processes and dynamics of a jovian thundercloud

Yoav Yair, Zev Levin, Shalva Tzivion

פרסום מחקרי: פרסום בכתב עתמאמרביקורת עמיתים

תקציר

An axisymmetric time-dependent cloud model with dynamics and detailed microphysics of Jupiter’s water cumulus clouds is presented. The microphysical processes operating in these clouds are analyzed and compared to those of terrestrial clouds. Diffusional growth and coagulation of water drops and ice crystals were found to be faster and more efficient in Jupiter. Large particles were formed on short time scales and kept suspended by the strong updraft in the core of the developing cloud, which allowed them to grow by coalescence as they ascended to the upper regions of the cloud. Thus, clouds retained high values of mass mixing ratio (10 g kg−1) and high concentrations of large particles (D > 100 μm). An evaluation of the minimum cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and ice nuclei (IN) concentrations in Jupiter’s troposphere showed that for convective clouds to develop a vertical dimension of 45-50 km, CCN concentrations should be of the order of 100 cm−3; much lower concentrations resulted in relatively shallow clouds (10 km) and lower mass contents. The formation of ice by freezing or nucleation was found to contribute significantly to cloud development, due to the release of latent heat which counteracted the negative buoyancy created by the condensed mass. The required IN concentration was of the order of 0.1 cm−3.

שפה מקוריתאנגלית
עמודים (מ-עד)278-299
מספר עמודים22
כתב עתIcarus
כרך114
מספר גיליון2
מזהי עצם דיגיטלי (DOIs)
סטטוס פרסוםפורסם - אפר׳ 1995
פורסם באופן חיצוניכן

טביעת אצבע

להלן מוצגים תחומי המחקר של הפרסום 'Microphysical processes and dynamics of a jovian thundercloud'. יחד הם יוצרים טביעת אצבע ייחודית.

פורמט ציטוט ביבליוגרפי