Microphysics measurements made by the BAS Twin Otter during EUREC4A

Abstract:

EUREC4A is an international project that aims to address the current lack of understanding of the processes controlling the response of trade-wind cumulus clouds to changing environmental conditions in a warmer climate. The radiative properties of the trade-wind cumulus clouds have a major influence on the Earth's radiation budget. The response to global warming of these clouds is therefore critical for global mean cloud feedbacks. The EUREC4A field campaign took place in the vicinity of Barbados during January and February, 2020. The BAS Twin Otter aircraft was deployed in the project to make measurements of aerosols, cloud microphysics and boundary-layer processes in the life cycle of the clouds. Measurements were made of the development of warm rain, the rain shafts and associated downdrafts, the resulting gust front and secondary cloud development, and anvil-like detrainment structures. Of particular interest is the effect of turbulence on the development of rain. In addition, dust events caused a change in the concentration of cloud droplets, which in turn affected the microphysical and macrophysical properties of the clouds. We will show both statistical observations from the project and observations from the 5 February case of these features. Results will also be shown for high-resolution MONC model runs for the 5 Feb case. We will discuss how the microphysics observations and model results relate to the larger scales.