Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2245
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2245
22 Aug 2024
 | 22 Aug 2024

Co-variability drives the inverted-V sensitivity between liquid water path and droplet concentrations

Tom Goren, Goutam Chourdhury, Jan Kretzschmar, and Isabel McCoy

Abstract. Many studies using climatological data of liquid water path (LWP) and droplet concentration (Nd) find an inverted-V relationship, where LWP increases and then decreases with Nd. Our findings suggest that while these LWP responses to changes in Nd align with proposed causal mechanisms, such as entrainment evaporation feedback and precipitation suppression, the inverted-V is primarily driven by the co-variability between LWP and Nd. This co-variability arises from meteorological conditions and microphysical processes, each independently affecting LWP and Nd in opposite directions. We further demonstrate that the inverted-V relationship reflects the climatological evolution of Stratocumulus clouds (Sc). Therefore, background anthropogenic changes in Nd should, in principle, be manifested in changes across the entire Sc climatology along its evolution. Instantaneous LWP response to Nd derived from ship tracks, or other similar natural experiments, may therefore not accurately represent the climatological LWP response. This is because the local perturbations in Nd may not align with the plausible natural co-variability between LWP and Nd, which varies depending on the cloud state along the Sc evolution.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
Share

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

21 Mar 2025
Co-variability drives the inverted-V sensitivity between liquid water path and droplet concentrations
Tom Goren, Goutam Choudhury, Jan Kretzschmar, and Isabel McCoy
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 3413–3423, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3413-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3413-2025, 2025
Short summary
Download

The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
Many studies have identified an inverted-V relationship between liquid water path (LWP) and...
Share