Mu et al. (2026) Supersaturation Fluctuation Modulates Warm Rain Formation in Cumulus Clouds: Implications for Hygroscopic Cloud Seeding

⚠️ Warning: This summary was generated from the abstract only, as the full text was not available.

Identification

• Journal: Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-10-12
• Authors: Pengfei Mu, Xiaoqin Jing, Jie Yang, Yan Yin, Yubao Liu, Baojun Chen, Yanbin Huang, Shaofeng Hua
• DOI: 10.1029/2026jd047718

Research Groups

Not explicitly mentioned in the abstract.

Short Summary

This study investigates the impact of subgrid-scale supersaturation fluctuations (SS') on warm rain processes and hygroscopic cloud seeding using large-eddy simulations, revealing that SS' influences precipitation onset differently based on its interaction with aerosol activation and condensation, and can modulate seeding-induced rain formation.

Objective

• To investigate the impact of subgrid-scale supersaturation fluctuations (SS') on warm rain and hygroscopic cloud seeding.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Subgrid-scale (smaller than 100 meters) for supersaturation fluctuations; simulations of an isolated cumulus cloud.
• Temporal Scale: Process-based, focusing on the onset and evolution of precipitation formation.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) large-eddy simulations (LES).
• Data sources: Numerical experiments; subgrid-scale SS' represented by Gaussian probability distribution functions.

Main Results

• Subgrid-scale SS' affects warm rain processes through different dominant mechanisms.
• When SS' acts solely on aerosol activation, droplet concentration significantly increases while their radius decreases, delaying the onset of precipitation.
• When SS' acts simultaneously on activation and condensation, large droplets form faster, causing precipitation to begin earlier.
• For the investigated case, hygroscopic seeding near cloud base results in a delay in precipitation formation due to competition for water vapor, regardless of seeding fine or coarse aerosols.
• Subgrid-scale SS' can partially offset this seeding-induced delay, suggesting its role in modulating seeding-induced rain formation.

Contributions

• Reveals the key mechanisms by which subgrid-scale SS' influences rain formation.
• Emphasizes the importance of considering SS' in understanding the hygroscopic seeding effect using model simulations.

Funding

Not explicitly mentioned in the abstract.

Citation

@article{Mu2026Supersaturation,
  author = {Mu, Pengfei and Jing, Xiaoqin and Yang, Jie and Yin, Yan and Liu, Yubao and Chen, Baojun and Huang, Yanbin and Hua, Shaofeng},
  title = {Supersaturation Fluctuation Modulates Warm Rain Formation in Cumulus Clouds: Implications for Hygroscopic Cloud Seeding},
  journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1029/2026jd047718},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1029/2026jd047718}
}