Entrainment and Mixing in Clouds: The Paluch Mixing Diagram Revisited

Abstract

The applicability of the Paluch mixing diagram to studies dealing with cumulus entrainment is reexamined. Theoretical considerations are illustrated with the Paluch method applied to numerically simulated entrainment into a rising thermal. An explanation is given as to why the traditional method of aircraft measurement analysis may result in significant overestimation of the level of origin of the entrained air in the presence of unresolved structures of thermodynamic fields.