Hazra, A; Mandal, V; Chen, JP (2013). Study of cloud microphysical properties over India during CAIPEEX using a mesoscale model with new cloud microphysical scheme-Part I. JOURNAL OF ATMOSPHERIC AND SOLAR-TERRESTRIAL PHYSICS, 93, 29-44.
Incorporation of aerosol interaction in cloud microphysics is being the central issue now a day. In the present study, an improved and modified cloud microphysical scheme comprising bulk-formula two-moment mixed-phase cloud scheme has been incorporated with a regional model to study the cloud-aerosol interaction in the mixed-phase cloud system. The paper intends to sensitivity study as to what extent this new microphysical scheme can capture the observed cloud microphysical properties. The observed cloud microphysical hydrometeors are evaluated from MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer) and CAIPEEX (Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement EXperiment) data set over the Indian peninsular region. Surface accumulated precipitation is collected from TRMM-3B42 data sets. One active convection (case study 1) and two suppressed convection events (case study 2 and case study 3) during Indian south west monsoon are simulated over three different locations of the Indian peninsular region with the help of a multi nested mesoscale model based on microphysical modification. The cloud microphysical properties such as cloud water path from satellite data retrieval and cloud drop number concentration, cloud droplet radius from CAIPEEX, are reproduced well by the modified microphysical scheme. The rainfall is also reasonably well simulated during active monsoon convection event (6th July, 2009) as well as suppressed monsoon convection events (15th June and 19th August, 2009). Moreover, another sensitivity experiment is done to include natural aerosols, like dust as a representation of heterogeneous ice nucleation. The inclusion of mineral dust effect as ice nuclei provides realistic cloud microphysical properties during present case studies successfully. So it is a worthy investigation of the role of different kinds of aerosols on the microphysics and precipitation processes. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.