Parameterization of Depositional Ice Growth

Abstract

The physics of ice nucleation as a temperature-dependent process is incorporated into a parameterized equation which simulates the depositional growth of ice at the expense of liquid and vapor phases. The depositional parameterization is examined in the framework of a parcel model and the results compared to a more detailed ice model containing 20 mass categories of ice crystals. Comparisons show that the parametric and detailed models yield nearly identical results. A computational advantage is present with the parameterization because the necessary size distribution information is greatly reduced and the time step is much larger.