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https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1932
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1932
26 May 2025
 | 26 May 2025

Giant Cloud Condensation Nuclei enhanced Ice Sublimation Process: A potential mechanism in mixed phase clouds

Denghui Ji, Christoph Ritter, Xiaoyu Sun, Manuel Moser, Christiane Voigt, Mathias Palm, and Justus Notholt

Abstract. The Wegener-Bergeron-Findeisen (WBF) process describes the growth of ice crystals at the expense of supercooled liquid droplets in mixed-phase clouds, driven by phase transitions at temperatures below 0 °C. In this study, we introduce a potential mechanism involving the transfer of water vapor from ice to cloud droplets formed on Giant Cloud Condensation Nuclei (GCCN). This process occurs under specific atmospheric conditions influenced by temperature and CCN size, particularly for CCN with diameters exceeding 1 μm. We term this mechanism the Giant Cloud Condensation Nuclei-Enhanced Ice Sublimation Process (GCCN-ISP). We first conduct a theoretical analysis to develop a physical model for determining these specific atmospheric conditions, followed by validation through observations. Model simulations informed by observational data from aircraft indicate that when CCNs are sufficiently large and cold, the water vapor partial pressure over droplets formed on these CCNs can be lower than that over ice. Consequently, water vapor can transfer from ice to supercooled droplets, causing the droplets to grow. Eventually, the water vapor pressures of both reach equilibrium, resulting in their coexistence.

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Denghui Ji, Christoph Ritter, Xiaoyu Sun, Manuel Moser, Christiane Voigt, Mathias Palm, and Justus Notholt

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1932', Anonymous Referee #2, 12 Jun 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1932', Anonymous Referee #1, 15 Jun 2025

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1932', Anonymous Referee #2, 12 Jun 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1932', Anonymous Referee #1, 15 Jun 2025
Denghui Ji, Christoph Ritter, Xiaoyu Sun, Manuel Moser, Christiane Voigt, Mathias Palm, and Justus Notholt
Denghui Ji, Christoph Ritter, Xiaoyu Sun, Manuel Moser, Christiane Voigt, Mathias Palm, and Justus Notholt

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Short summary
We discovered a process where large aerosols help small water droplets in Arctic clouds grow, even when conditions normally favor ice. Unlike the traditional view, this process may explain how liquid and ice can coexist in cold clouds. Based on theory and aircraft data, our findings provide new insight into the microphysics of mixed-phase clouds, which could improve understanding of how Arctic clouds affect climate.
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