Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3893
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3893
18 Dec 2024
 | 18 Dec 2024

On the Processes Determining the Slope of Cloud-Water Adjustments in Non-Precipitating Stratocumulus

Fabian Hoffmann, Yao-Sheng Chen, and Graham Feingold

Abstract. Cloud-water adjustments are a part of aerosol-cloud interactions, affecting the ability of clouds to reflect shortwave radiation by processes altering the vertically integrated cloud water content L in response to changes in the droplet concentration N. In this study, we utilize a simple entrainment parameterization for mixed-layer models to determine entrainment-mediated cloud-water adjustments in non-precipitating stratocumulus. At lower N, L decreases due to an increase in entrainment in response to an increase in N suppressing the stabilizing effect of evaporating precipitation (virga) on boundary layer dynamics. At higher N, the cessation of cloud-droplet sedimentation sustains more liquid water at the cloud top, and hence stronger preconditioning of free-tropospheric air, which increases entrainment with N. Overall, cloud-water adjustments are found to weaken distinctly from dln(L)/dln(N)=-0.48 at N=100 cm-3 to -0.03 at N=1000 cm-3, indicating that a single value to describe cloud-water adjustments in non-precipitating clouds is insufficient. Based on these results, we speculate that cloud-water adjustments at lower N are associated with slow changes in boundary layer dynamics, while a faster response is associated with the preconditioning of free-tropospheric air at higher N.

Competing interests: At least one of the (co-)authors is a member of the editorial board of Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics.

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 paper. While Copernicus Publications makes every effort to include appropriate place names, the final responsibility lies with the authors. Views expressed in the text are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.
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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

11 Aug 2025
On the processes determining the slope of cloud water adjustments in weakly and non-precipitating stratocumulus
Fabian Hoffmann, Yao-Sheng Chen, and Graham Feingold
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 8657–8670, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8657-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8657-2025, 2025
Short summary
Fabian Hoffmann, Yao-Sheng Chen, and Graham Feingold

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3893', Anonymous Referee #1, 15 Jan 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Fabian Hoffmann, 11 Mar 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3893', Anonymous Referee #2, 28 Jan 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Fabian Hoffmann, 11 Mar 2025

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3893', Anonymous Referee #1, 15 Jan 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Fabian Hoffmann, 11 Mar 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3893', Anonymous Referee #2, 28 Jan 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Fabian Hoffmann, 11 Mar 2025

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Fabian Hoffmann on behalf of the Authors (11 Mar 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (12 Mar 2025) by Matthew Lebsock
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (13 Mar 2025)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (11 Apr 2025) by Matthew Lebsock
AR by Fabian Hoffmann on behalf of the Authors (22 Apr 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (05 May 2025) by Matthew Lebsock
AR by Fabian Hoffmann on behalf of the Authors (06 May 2025)

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

11 Aug 2025
On the processes determining the slope of cloud water adjustments in weakly and non-precipitating stratocumulus
Fabian Hoffmann, Yao-Sheng Chen, and Graham Feingold
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 8657–8670, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8657-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8657-2025, 2025
Short summary
Fabian Hoffmann, Yao-Sheng Chen, and Graham Feingold
Fabian Hoffmann, Yao-Sheng Chen, and Graham Feingold

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Short summary
Clouds reflect a substantial portion of the incoming solar radiation back into space. This capacity is determined by the number of cloud droplets, which in turn is influenced by the number of aerosol particles, forming the basis for aerosol-cloud-climate interactions. In this study, we use a simple mixed-layer approach to understand the effect of aerosol on cloud water in non-precipitating stratocumulus.
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