Drop Growth Due to High Supersaturation Caused by Isobaric Mixing

Abstract

A new conceptual model is proposed for enhanced cloud droplet growth during condensation. Rapid droplet growth may occur in zones of high supersaturation resulting from isobaric mixing of saturated volumes with different temperatures. Cloud volumes having a temperature different from the general cloud environment may form due to turbulent vertical motions in a temperature lapse rate that is not pseudoadiabatic. This mechanism is most effective in the vicinity of cloud-top inversions. It is also shown that the isobaric mixing of saturated and dry volumes with different temperatures may also lead to high supersaturations. The high supersaturations are associated with zones of molecular mixing, and they have a characteristic size of the order of millimeters with a characteristic lifetime near tenths of a second. Some small proportion of cloud droplets, over many supersaturation events, may grow large enough to grow effectively through collision?coalescence. This hypothesis of isobaric mixing may help explain freezing and warm drizzle formation.