Zhang).
Aerosol particles serve as a source of ice nuclei (IN); they therefore, affect cloud
microphysical properties. However, large uncertainties exist in ice nucleation processes and
mechanisms. In order to investigate the impact of heterogeneous deposition/condensation ice
nucleation on air quality and climate modeling, the sensitivity of the model predictions to
different ice nucleation parameterizations is examined. In this study, the simulations using
the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with the physics and aerosol package
from the Community Atmosphere Model version 5 (WRF-CAM5) are conducted over the
East Asia for two full years (2006 and 2011), with two different heterogeneous
deposition/condensation ice nucleation schemes. The default scheme parameterization,
developed by Meyers et al. in 1992, only links the IN concentration to ice supersaturation,
whereas the new scheme of Niemand et al. (2012) parameterizes the IN concentration as a
function of temperature and dust surface areas. Comprehensive model performance
evaluations of the simulations with two different schemes for 2006 and 2011 are performed
using available satellite data, reanalysis data, and surface observations. The model shows a
comparable performance for meteorological variables at surface (i.e., temperature at 2 m
(T2), wind speed at 10 m (WS10), and radiation at ground), but large differences exist in
cloud variables and radiative forcing at top of the atmosphere (TOA), indicating large
uncertainties in cloud microphysics parameterizations. Significantly low biases exist in the
in CAM5.
The new scheme produces significantly higher IN concentrations in the northern
domain where dust source and downwind regions are located, leading to significantly higher
ice number concentrations in these regions, but significantly lower IN concentrations in the
southern domain. The larger IN concentrations lead to an increase in ice water path (IWP)
and a decrease in cloud liquid water path (CWP) caused by the enhancement of
Bergeron-Findeisen process in mixed-phase clouds. Despite the overall similar domainwide predictions
of IWP, CWP and cloud optical thickness (COT) for the two simulations with different ice
nucleation schemes, significant differences are found in their spatial distributions. Overall,
N12 gives relatively lower domainwide IWP and relatively larger CWP and COT. The
increase in COT results in a stronger shorwave radiation, longwave radiation, and cloud
forcing (net cooling) at top of atmosphere and a subsequent decrease in T2. The decreases in
T2 and radiation are associated with the decreases in mixing ratios of oxidants (i.e., OH and
O3) and mass concentrations of aerosol particles at surface (i.e., sulfate, PM2.5, and PM10).
Considerable improvements are found in the simulated CWP, COT, column SO2, and surface
mixing ratios of O3 in the simulations with the new ice nucleation scheme. Results of this
research provide information on the uncertainties of deposition and condensation ice
nucleation in WRF-CAM5 and identify regions that show increased sensitivity to the
© Copyright 2015 by Ying Chen
by Ying Chen
A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Science
Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences
Raleigh, North Carolina
2015
APPROVED BY:
_______________________________ ______________________________
Dr. Yang Zhang Dr. Viney P. Aneja
Committee Chair
BIOGRAPHY
Ying Chen was born and raised in Haikou, China where from a young age she had
developed an interest in environmental protection. Upon graduating from high school in
2008, she entered Peking University to study Environmental Science. Her first research
experience was in the atmospheric chemistry research group in Peking University working
under her undergraduate advisor, Dr. Min Hu, where she assisted with the work on
atmospheric pollutant monitoring and composition analysis. After she graduated from Peking
University, she entered the M.S. Atmospheric Sciences program at NC State in fall 2012 and
worked on the regional atmospheric modeling over East Asia in Dr. Yang Zhang’s Air
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First, I would like to thank my committee members, Drs. Yang Zhang, Viney P.
Aneja, and Anantha R. Aiyyer. I am extremely grateful to Dr. Zhang for giving me the
opportunity to work on this project and giving me numerous opportunities for academic
growth throughout the entire process. I also greatly appreciate the scientific knowledge and
guidance provided by Drs. Viney P. Aneja and Anantha R. Aiyyer to take my M.S. research
to its full potential.
Second, I would like to thank collaborators from the Pacific Northwest National
Laboratory (PNNL), Drs. Jiwen Fan and Ruby Leung, for developing and implementing the
new ice nucleation scheme in the WRF-CAM5 model, members of Tsinghua University for
providing the emissions for 2006 and 2011. Thanks are due to the following people for their
scientific contributions: Dr. Kai Wang, Jian He, Xin Zhang, and Changjie Cai. I also wish to
thank the DOE climate modeling program (DE-SC000695) for supporting this research.
I wish to extend special thanks to all the members of the Air Quality Forecasting Lab
(past and present). Each has provided endless guidance and assistance in my research process
and even personal life.
Finally, I want to thank those people that served as my unwavering support system.
Enormous thanks are due to my parents, Chengfa and Yumei, and my brother, Wenpeng.
You have been behind me through everything and have given me endless support and
encouragement. To my boyfriend, Yizhou, and the future family, you have given me the
without you. To my friends in the US and China, thanks for your support through the hard
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF TABLES ... vii
LIST OF FIGURES ... ix
ACRONYMS ... xxv
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ... 1
1.1 Background and Motivations ... 1
1.2 Objectives ... 2
CHAPTER 2. LITERAUTRE REVIEW ... 4
2.1 Ice Nucleation and Its Climate Impacts ... 4
2.2 Mechanisms of Ice Nucleation ... 11
2.2.1 Heterogeneous Classical Nucleation Theory (CNT) ... 11
2.2.2 The Stochastic Description ... 14
2.2.3 The Singular Description ... 16
2.3 Sensitivity to Explicit Ice Nucleation Schemes ... 16
CHAPTER 3. DESCRIPTION OF MODEL, DATABASE, AND METHODOLOGY ... 23
3.1 Modeling System... 23
3.2 Episode Selection ... 28
3.3 Observational Networks ... 28
3.3.1 Meteorological Data... 29
3.3.2 Chemical Data ... 29
3.3.3 Satellite Data ... 30
3.4 Evaluation Protocols ... 32
3.4.1 Spatial Evaluation ... 32
3.4.2 Statistical Evaluation ... 32
3.4.3 Site Specific Evaluation ... 34
CHAPTER 4. EVALUATION OF BASELINE SIMULATION RESULTS ... 35
4.1 2006 Application and Evaluation ... 35
4.1.1 Meteorological Predictions ... 35
4.1.2 Chemical Predictions ... 65
4.2.1 Comparison of emissions in 2011 with in 2006... 95
4.2.2 Meteorological Predictions ... 99
4.2.3 Chemical Predictions ... 128
CHAPTER 5. SENSITIVITY TO EXPLICIT ICE NUCLEATION SCHEMES ... 142
5.1 Performance Evaluation ... 142
5.2 Sensitivity to Explicit Ice Nucleation Schemes ... 156
5.2.1 Spatial Comparison ... 156
5.2.2 Vertical Comparison ... 167
5.3 Examination of Ice Nucleation Indirect Climate Effects ... 175
5.3.1 Cloud Microphysical Effects ... 177
5.3.2 Radiative and Temperature Effects ... 202
5.3.3 Precipitation Effects ... 212
5.3.4 Chemical Effects ... 217
CHAPTER 6. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ... 227
LIST OF TABLES
Table 2.1 Comparison of major features of M92, N12, D10, P08, and C08 ... 22
Table 3.1 Model configuration used in the WRF-CAM5 simulations ... 27
Table 3.2 Summary of observational networks ... 31
Table 4.1 Performance statistics for T2, Q2, WS10, P, and precipitation for 2006 ... 42
Table 4.2 Performance statistics for cloud parameters for 2006 ... 46
Table 4.3 Performance statistics for LWCF, and SWCF for 2006 ... 50
Table 4.4 Performance statistics for surface chemical species for 2006 ... 73
Table 4.5 Performance statistics for column chemical species for 2006 ... 78
Table 4.6 Comparison of annual emissions for 2006 and 2011 ... 96
Table 4.7 Performance statistics for T2, Q2, WS10, P, and precipitation for 2011 ... 103
Table 4.8 Performance statistics for cloud parameters for 2011 ... 107
Table 4.9 Performance statistics for LWCF, and SWCF for 2011 ... 111
Table 4.10 Performance statistics for surface chemical species for 2011 ... 133
Table 4.11 Performance statistics for column mass abundances of chemical species for ... 2011 ... 138
Table 5.2 Performance statistics for T2, P, Q2, WS10, precipitation, and radiation at …
surface for the 2011 simulation with N12 ... 148
Table 5.3 Performance statistics for cloud parameters for the 2006 simulation with N12 ... 150
Table 5.4 Performance statistics for cloud parameters for the 2011 simulation with N12 ... 152
Table 5.5 Performance statistics for column chemical species for the 2006 simulation …..
with N12 ... 154
Table 5.6 Performance statistics for column chemical species for the 2011 simulation …..
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 2.1 Representation of different mechanisms of ice nucleation (Hoose et al., 2012) ... 7
Figure 2.2 Schematic diagram of warm cloud effects due to CCN (solid arrows) and …
glaciation effects due to IN (dash arrows) (Lohmann and Feichter, 2005). ... 10
Figure 2.3 Decay of liquid droplet with time for (a) single component model and (b) …
multiple component model (Murray et al., 2012) ... 15
Figure 3.1 modeling domain of WRF-CAM5 ... 26
Figure 4.1 Spatial distributions of simulated monthly-average and seasonal-average T2 …
and Q2 overlaid with observations from NCDC. ... 51
Figure 4.2 Spatial distributions of simulated monthly-average and seasonal-average …..
WS10 and Precipitation overlaid with observations from NCDC. ... 52
Figure 4.3 Comparison of simulated daily precipitation against GPCP for January, …
February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, …
November, December, Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall for 2006. ... 53
Figure 4.4 Comparison of simulated GLW against CERES for January, February, March, …
April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, …
Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall for 2006. ... 54
Figure 4.5 Comparison of simulated SWD against CERES for January, February, March, …
April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, …
Figure 4.6 Comparison of simulated CCN against MODIS for January, February, March, …
April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, …
Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall for 2006. ... 56
Figure 4.7 Comparison of simulated CDNC in warm clouds against TERRA for January, …
February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, …
November, December, Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall for 2006. ... 57
Figure 4.8 Comparison of simulated CF against MODIS for January, February, March, …
April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, …
Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall for 2006. ... 58
Figure 4.9 Comparison of simulated CWP against MODIS for January, February, March, …
April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, …
Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall for 2006. ... 59
Figure 4.10 Comparison of simulated IWP against MODIS for January, February, March, …
April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, …
Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall for 2006. ... 60
Figure 4.11 Comparison of simulated PWV against MODIS for January, February, March, …
April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, …
Figure 4.12 Comparison of simulated COT against MODIS for January, February, March, …
April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, …
Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall for 2006. ... 62
Figure 4.13 Comparison of simulated LWCF against CERES for January, February, …
March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, …
December, Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall for 2006. ... 63
Figure 4.14 Comparison of simulated SWCF against CERES for January, February, …
March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, …
December, Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall for 2006. ... 64
Figure 4.15 Simulated monthly-average and seasonal-average PM10 overlaid with ……..
API-derived PM10 from MEP China. ... 81
Figure 4.16 Comparisons of simulated and observed monthly-average and seasonal-average
mixing ratios of CO at surface over Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. ... 82
Figure 4.17 Comparisons of simulated and observed monthly-average and seasonal-…
average mixing ratios of NO at surface over Taiwan, Japan, and South …
Korea. ... 83
Figure 4.18 Comparisons of simulated and observed monthly-average and seasonal-…
average mixing ratios of NO2 at surface over Taiwan, Japan, and South …
Figure 4.19 Comparisons of simulated and observed monthly-average and seasonal-…
average mixing ratios of NO2 and SO2 at surface over Taiwan, Japan, and …
South Korea. ... 85
Figure 4.20 Comparisons of simulated and observed monthly-average and seasonal-…
average mixing ratios of O3 at surface over Taiwan, Japan, and South …..
Korea. ... 86
Figure 4.21 Comparisons of simulated and observed monthly-average and seasonal-…
average mixing ratios of O3 and PM2.5 at surface over Taiwan, Japan, and …
South Korea. ... 87
Figure 4.22 Comparisons of simulated and observed monthly-average and seasonal-….
average mass concentrations of PM10 at surface over Mainland China, Hong …
Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. ... 88
Figure 4.23 Comparisons of simulated and observed seasonal-average and annual-….
average mass concentrations of PM2.5 and its compositions at THU and …
Miyun. ... 89
Figure 4.24 Comparison of simulated column CO against MOPPIT for January, February, …
March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, …
Figure 4.25 Comparison of simulated column NO2 against SCIAMACHY for January, …
February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, …
November, December, Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall for 2006. ... 91
Figure 4.26 Comparison of simulated column SO2 against SCIAMACHY for January, …
February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, …
November, December, Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall for 2006. ... 92
Figure 4.27 Comparison of simulated column TOR against OMI for January, February, …
March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, …
December, Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall for 2006. ... 93
Figure 4.28 Comparison of simulated AOD against MODIS for January, February, March, …
April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, …
Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall for 2006. ... 94
Figure 4.29 Comparisons of emissions of major gasous species in 2011 with those in ….
2006. ... 97
Figure 4.30 Comparisons of emissions of major aerosol species in 2011 with those in …
2006. ... 98
Figure 4.31 Spatial distributions of simulated seasonal-average and annual-average T2 …
overlaid with observations from NCDC and absolute and percentage …
Figure 4.32 Spatial distributions of simulated seasonal-average and annual-average Q2 …
overlaid with observations from NCDC and absolute and percentage …
differences for 2011. ... 113
Figure 4.33 Spatial distributions of simulated seasonal-average and annual-average WS10 …
overlaid with observations from NCDC and absolute and percentage …
differences for 2011. ... 114
Figure 4.34 Spatial distributions of simulated seasonal-average and annual-average PBLH …
and absolute and percentage differences for 2011. ... 115
Figure 4.35 Spatial distributions of simulated seasonal-average and annual-average …
precipitation overlaid with observations from NCDC and absolute and …
percentage differences for 2011. ... 116
Figure 4.36 Spatial distributions of simulated seasonal-average and annual-average SWD …
and absolute and percentage differences for 2011. ... 117
Figure 4.37 Spatial distributions of simulated seasonal-average and annual-average GLW …
and absolute and percentage differences for 2011. ... 118
Figure 4.38 Spatial distributions of simulated seasonal-average and annual-average CCN …
and absolute and percentage differences for 2011. ... 119
Figure 4.39 Spatial distributions of simulated seasonal-average and annual-average CDNC ...
Figure 4.40 Spatial distributions of simulated seasonal-average and annual-average CF ……
and absolute and percentage differences for 2011...………121
Figure 4.41 Spatial distributions of simulated seasonal-average and annual-average CWP …
and absolute and percentage differences for 2011 ... 122
Figure 4.42 Spatial distributions of simulated seasonal-average and annual-average IWP ….
and absolute and percentage differences for 2011 ... 123
Figure 4.43 Spatial distributions of simulated seasonal-average and annual-average PWV ….
and absolute and percentage differences for 2011 ... 124
Figure 4.44 Spatial distributions of simulated seasonal-average and annual-average COT …
and absolute and percentage differences for 2011 ... 125
Figure 4.45 Spatial distributions of simulated seasonal-average and annual-average LWCF ..
and absolute and percentage differences for 2011 ... 126
Figure 4.46 Spatial distributions of simulated seasonal-average and annual-average SWCF …
and absolute and percentage differences for 2011 ... 127
Figure 4.47 Simulated monthly-average and seasonal-average PM10 overlaid with ……..
API-derived PM10 from MEP China....………141
Figure 5.1 Spatial distributions of IND simulated by M92 and N12 for monthly-mean …
and seasonal-mean in 2006 ... 159
Figure 5.2 Spatial distributions of INT simulated by M92 and N12 for monthly-mean and ….
Figure 5.3 Comparison of month variation of domainwide average INM (top left), INT ….
(top right), IND (bottom left), and CINC (bottom right) simulated by N12 and …
M92 ... 161
Figure 5.4 Spatial distributions of CINC simulated by M92 and N12 for monthly-mean ….
and seasonal-mean in 2006 ... 162
Figure 5.5 Absolute (top) and percentage (bottom) differences for CINC between N12 and …
M92 for 2006 in monthly-mean for (a) January, (b) February, and (c) …
December, and (d) in seasonal-mean for winter ... 163
Figure 5.6 Absolute (top) and percentage (bottom) differences for CINC between N12 and …
M92 for 2006 in monthly-mean for (a) March, (b) April, and (c) May, and (d) …
in seasonal-mean for spring ... 164
Figure 5.7 Absolute (top) and percentage (bottom) differences for CINC between N12 and …
M92 for 2006 in monthly-mean for (a) June, (b) July, and (c) August, and (d) …
in seasonal-mean for summer ... 165
Figure 5.8 Absolute (top) and percentage (bottom) differences for CINC between N12 and …
M92 for 2006 in monthly-mean for (a) September, (b) October, and (c) …
November, and (d) in seasonal-mean for fall ... 166
Figure 5.9 The vertical distributions for IND for M92 and N12 monthly-mean for (a) …
January, (b) February, (c) March, (d) April, (e) May, (f) June, (g) July, (h) …
seasonal-mean for (m) winter, (n) spring, (o) summer, and (p) fall, and (q) in …
annual-mean in 2006 ... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 5.10 The vertical distributions for CINC for M92 and N12 monthly-mean for (a) …
January, (b) February, (c) March, (d) April, (e) May, (f) June, (g) July, (h) …
August, (i) September, (j) October, (k) November, and (l) December, in …
seasonal-mean for (m) winter, (n) spring, (o) summer, and (p) fall, and (q) in …
annual-mean in 2006 ... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 5.11 Schematic diagram of the effects of the change of IND on cloud properties, …
radiation, precipitation, temperature, and chemical species, and the feedback …
of them ... 176
Figure 5.12 Spatial comparison of column total IWP from reanalysis data from MODIS …
(column 1), M92 (column 2) and N12 (column 3) for monthly-mean of …
January (row 1), February (row 2), and December (row 3), and seasonal-mean ..
of winter (row 4) in 2006 ... 182
Figure 5.13 Spatial comparison of column total IWP from reanalysis data from MODIS …
(column 1), M92 (column 2) and N12 (column 3) for monthly-mean of …
March (row 1), April (row 2), and May (row 3), and seasonal-mean of spring …
(row 4) in 2006 ... 183
Figure 5.14 Spatial comparison of column total IWP from reanalysis data from MODIS …
(row 1), July (row 2), and August (row 3), and seasonal-mean of summer …
(row 4) in 2006 ... 184
Figure 5.15 Spatial comparison of column total IWP from reanalysis data from MODIS …
(column 1), M92 (column 2) and N12 (column 3) for monthly-mean of …
September (row 1), October (row 2), and November (row 3), and seasonal-…
mean of fall (row 4) in 2006 ... 185
Figure 5.16 The vertical distributions for ice mixing ratios due to cloud ice for M92 and …
N12 monthly-mean for (a) January, (b) February, (c) March, (d) April, (e) …
May, (f) June, (g) July, (h) August, (i) September, (j) October, (k) ….
November, and (l) December, in seasonal-mean for (m) winter, (n) spring, …
(o) summer, and (p) fall, and (q) in annual-mean in 2006Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 5.17 A schematic diagram depicting the cloud and precipitation processes in CAM …
(Rutledge and Hobbs, 1984) ... 189
Figure 5.18 Absolute and percentage differences for IWP due to ice (column 1), IWP due …
to snow (column 2), and IWP due to ice and snow (column 3) between N12 …
and M92 for 2006 in monthly-mean for (a) January, (b) February, and (c) …
December, and (d) in seasonal-mean for winter ... 190
Figure 5.19 Absolute and percentage differences for IWP due to ice (column 1), IWP due …
and M92 for 2006 in monthly-mean for (a) March, (b) April, and (c) May, and …
(d) in seasonal-mean for spring ... 191
Figure 5.20 Absolute and percentage differences for IWP due to ice (column 1), IWP due …
to snow (column 2), and IWP due to ice and snow (column 3) between N12 …
and M92 for 2006 in monthly-mean for (a) June, (b) July, and (c) August, and …
(d) in seasonal-mean for summer ... 192
Figure 5.21 Absolute and percentage differences for IWP due to ice (column 1), IWP due …
to snow (column 2), and IWP due to ice and snow (column 3) between N12 …
and M92 for 2006 in monthly-mean for (a) September, (b) October, and (c) ….
November, and (d) in seasonal-mean for fall ... 193
Figure 5.22 Absolute and percentage differences for CWP due to QCLOUD (column 1), …
CWP due to QRAIN (column 2), and CWP due to QCLOUD and QRAIN …
(column 3) between N12 and M92 for 2006 in monthly-mean for (a) January, …
(b) February, and (c) December, and (d) in seasonal-mean for winter ... 194
Figure 5.23 Absolute and percentage differences for CWP due to QCLOUD (column 1), …
CWP due to QRAIN (column 2), and CWP due to QCLOUD and QRAIN …
(column 3) between N12 and M92 for 2006 in monthly-mean for (a) March, …
(b) April, and (c) May, and (d) in seasonal-mean for spring ... 195
Figure 5.24 Absolute and percentage differences for CWP due to QCLOUD (column 1), …
(column 3) between N12 and M92 for 2006 in monthly-mean for (a) June, ……
(b) July, and (c) August, and (d) in seasonal-mean for summer ... 196
Figure 5.25 Absolute and percentage differences for CWP due to QCLOUD (column 1), …
CWP due to QRAIN (column 2), and CWP due to QCLOUD and QRAIN …
(column 3) between N12 and M92 for 2006 in monthly-mean for (a) …
September, (b) October, and (c) November, and (d) in seasonal-mean for ……
fall ... 197
Figure 5.26 Absolute and percentage differences for COT (column 1), PWV (column 2), …
and CF (column 3) between N12 and M92 for 2006 in monthly-mean for (a) …
January, (b) February, and (c) December, and (d) in seasonal-mean for …...
winter. ... 198
Figure 5.27 Absolute and percentage differences for COT (column 1), PWV (column 2), …
and CF (column 3) between N12 and M92 for 2006 in monthly-mean for (a) …
March, (b) April, and (c) May, and (d) in seasonal-mean for spring ... 199
Figure 5.28 Absolute and percentage differences for COT (column 1), PWV (column 2), …
and CF (column 3) between N12 and M92 for 2006 in monthly-mean for (a) …
June, (b) July, and (c) August, and (d) in seasonal-mean for summer ... 200
Figure 5.29 Absolute and percentage differences for COT (column 1), PWV (column 2), …
September, (b) October, and (c) November, and (d) in seasonal-mean for ……
fall ... 201
Figure 5.30 Absolute and percentage differences for SWCF (column 1), LWCF ……..
(column 2), and T2 (column 3) between N12 and M92 for 2006 in monthly-…
mean for (a) January, (b) February, and (c) December, and (d) in seasonal-…
mean for winter. ... 204
Figure 5.31 Absolute and percentage differences for SWCF (column 1), LWCF ……..
(column 2), and T2 (column 3) between N12 and M92 for 2006 in monthly-…
mean for (a) March, (b) April, and (c) May, and (d) in seasonal-mean for …
spring ... 205
Figure 5.32 Absolute and percentage differences for SWCF (column 1), LWCF …….
(column 2), and T2 (column 3) between N12 and M92 for 2006 in monthly-…
mean for (a) June, (b) July, and (c) August, and (d) in seasonal-mean for …
summer ... 206
Figure 5.33 Absolute and percentage differences for SWCF (column 1), LWCF …….
(column 2), and T2 (column 3) between N12 and M92 for 2006 in monthly-…
mean for (a) September, (b) October, and (c) November, and (d) in seasonal-…
mean for fall ... 207
Figure 5.34 Absolute and percentage differences for SWD (column 1), OLR (column 2), …
January, (b) February, and (c) December, and (d) in seasonal-mean for …..
winter ... 208
Figure 5.35 Absolute and percentage differences for SWD (column 1), OLR (column 2), …
and LH (column 3) between N12 and M92 for 2006 in monthly-mean for (a) …
March, (b) April, and (c) May, and (d) in seasonal-mean for spring ... 209
Figure 5.36 Absolute and percentage differences for SWD (column 1), OLR (column 2), …
and LH (column 3) between N12 and M92 for 2006 in monthly-mean for (a) …
June, (b) July, and (c) August, and (d) in seasonal-mean for summer ... 210
Figure 5.37 Absolute and percentage differences for SWD (column 1), OLR (column 2), …
and LH (column 3) between N12 and M92 for 2006 in monthly-mean for (a) …
September, (b) October, and (c) November, and (d) in seasonal-mean for ……
fall ... 211
Figure 5.38 Absolute (top) and percentage (bottom) differences for precipitation between …
N12 and M92 for 2006 in monthly-mean for (a) January, (b) February, and (c) …
December, and (d) in seasonal-mean for winter. ... 213
Figure 5.39 Absolute (top) and percentage (bottom) differences for precipitation between …
N12 and M92 for 2006 in monthly-mean for (a) March, (b) April, and (c) ….
Figure 5.40 Absolute (top) and percentage (bottom) differences for precipitation between …
N12 and M92 for 2006 in monthly-mean for (a) June, (b) July, and (c) ….
August, and (d) in seasonal-mean for summer ... 215
Figure 5.41 Absolute (top) and percentage (bottom) differences for precipitation between …
N12 and M92 for 2006 in monthly-mean for (a) September, (b) October, and …
(c) November, and (d) in seasonal-mean for fall ... 216
Figure 5.42 Absolute and percentage differences for mixing ratios of surface OH ……
(column 1) and O3 (column 2) between N12 and M92 for 2006 in monthly-…
mean for (a) January, (b) February, and (c) December, and (d) in seasonal-…
mean for winter ... 219
Figure 5.43 Absolute and percentage differences for mixing ratios of surface OH ……
(column 1) and O3 (column 2) between N12 and M92 for 2006 in monthly-…
mean for (a) March, (b) April, and (c) May, and (d) in seasonal-mean for …
spring ... 220
Figure 5.44 Absolute and percentage differences for mixing ratios of surface OH ……
(column 1) and O3 (column 2) between N12 and M92 for 2006 in monthly-…
mean for (a) June, (b) July, and (c) August, and (d) in seasonal-mean for …
summer ... 221
Figure 5.45 Absolute and percentage differences for mixing ratios of surface OH ……
mean for (a) September, (b) October, and (c) November, and (d) in seasonal-…
mean for fall ... 222
Figure 5.46 Absolute and percentage differences for mass concentrations of PM10 …..
(column 1), PM2.5 (column 2), and sulfate (column 3) between N12 and M92 …
for 2006 in monthly-mean for (a) January, (b) February, and (c) December, …
and (d) in seasonal-mean for winter ... 223
Figure 5.47 Absolute and percentage differences for PM10 (column 1), PM2.5 (column 2), …
and sulfate (column 3) between N12 and M92 for 2006 in monthly-mean for …
(a) March, (b) April, and (c) May, and (d) in seasonal-mean for spring ... 224
Figure 5.48 Absolute and percentage differences for PM10 (column 1), PM2.5 (column 2), …
and sulfate (column 3) between N12 and M92 for 2006 in monthly-mean for …
(a) June, (b) July, and (c) August, and (d) in seasonal-mean for summe ... 225
Figure 5.49 Absolute and percentage differences for PM10 (column 1), PM2.5 (column 2),…
and sulfate (column 3) between N12 and M92 for 2006 in monthly-mean for …
(a) September, (b) October, and (c) November, and (d) in seasonal-mean for …
ACRONYMS
Acronym Definition
α –PDF Probability-density-function-of-α (contact angle) Model
AOD Aerosol Optical Depth
API Air Pollution Index
AQMN Air Quality Monitoring Network
BC Black Carbon
BCON Boundary Conditions
C08 Ice Nucleation Scheme Developed by Chen et al. (2008)
CAM3 The Community Atmospheric Model Version 3
CAM5 The Community Atmospheric Model Version 5
CAPE Consumption of Convective Available Potential Energy
CBMZ Carbon-Bond Mechanism Version Z
CCN Cloud Condensation Nuclei
CDNC Cloud Droplet Number Concentration
CERES Clouds and The Earth’s Radiant Energy System
CF Cloud Fraction
CINC Cloud Ice Number Concentration
CMAQ The Community Multiscale Air Quality Modeling System
CNT Classical Nucleation Theory
CO Carbon Monoxide
CWP Cloud Liquid Water Path
D10 Ice Nucleation Scheme Developed by Demott et al. (2010)
DM Dust/Metallic Aerosols
EPD Environmental Protection Department
FTUV Fast Tropospheric Ultraviolet-Visible Scheme
GCMs The Global Climate Models
GEOS-Chem Goddard Earth Observing System Atmospheric Chemistry Transport Model
GLW Downward Longwave Flux At Surface
GPCP Global Precipitation Climatology Project
HCHO Formaldehyde
HUCM Hebrew University Spectral Microphysics Cloud Model
ICON Initial Conditions
IN Ice Nuclei
INTEX-B Intercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment-Phase B
IP Ice Particle
IWP Cloud Ice Water Path
L07 Ice Nucleation Scheme Developed by Liu et al. (2007)
LH Latent Heat
IND IN due to Deposition/Condensation Nucleation
INM IN Due to Immersion Freezing
INT Total IN
LWCF Longwave Cloud Forcing at TOA
LTS Lower-tropospheric Stability
M92 Ice Nucleation Scheme Developed by Meyers et al. (1992)
MAM The Modal Aerosol Module of Liu et al. (2012)
MB Mean Bias
MEGAN2 The Model Of Emissions Of Gases and Aerosols From Nature Version 2
MEIC The Multi-Resolution Emission Inventory for China
MEP Ministry of Environmental Protection
MODIS Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer
MOPITT Measurements of Pollution in The Troposphere
N12 Ice Nucleation Scheme Developed by Niemand et al. (2012)
NASA National Atmospheric and Space Administration
NCAR National Center for Atmospheric Research
NCDC The National Climatic Data Center
NCEP The National Centers for Environmental Prediction
NH3 Ammonia
NH4+ Ammonium
NIES National Institute of Environmental Studies
NMB Normalized Mean Bias
NME Normalized Mean Error
NO Nitrogen Monoxide
NO3- Nitrate
NOAA The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NOAH The NCEP, Oregon State University, Air Force, and Hydrologic Research
Lab’s
O3 Ozone
OC Organic Carbon
OH Hydroxyl Radical
OMI Ozone Monitoring Instrument
P Air Pressure
P08 Ice Nucleation Scheme Developed by Phillips et al. (2008)
PBL Planet Boundary Layer
PBLH PBL Height
PM Particulate Matter
PM10 Particulate Matter with Diameter less than or equal to 10 µm
PM2.5 Particulate Matter with Diameter less than or equal to 2.5 µm
PNNL The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
PRD The Pearl River Delta
PWV Precipitable Water Vapor
Q2 Water Vapor Mixing Ratios at 2 Meters
R Correlation Coefficient
RH Relative Humidity
RMSE Root Mean Square Error
S Supersaturation
SCIAMACHY The Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Chartography
SO2 Sulfur Dioxide
SO42- Sulfate
SOA Secondary Organic Aerosols
SNA Sulfate, Nitrate, and Ammonium
SWCF Shortwave Cloud Forcing at TOA
SWD Downward Shortwave Flux at Ground Surface
T Temperature
t Time
T2 Temperature at 2 Meters
THU Tsinghua University, China
TOA Top of Atmosphere
TOR Tropospheric Ozone Residual
UW University of Washington
VOC Volatile Organic Carbon
WRF-CAM5 The Weather Research and Forecasting Model with the Physics Package
from CAM5
CHAPTER1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background and Motivations
Clouds are ubiquitous in the troposphere and control the Earth’s radiative forcing by
interacting with both incoming shortwave and outgoing longwave radiation (Lohmann and
Feichter, 2005). The formation of ice particles, which is an important process in both ice
cloud, like cirrus cloud and mixed cloud, like orographic cloud, play an important role in the
climate system via changing the microphysical properties of clouds and initiating
precipitation. Aerosols are reported to act as ice nuclei (IN) to catalyze the formation of ice
particles in clouds. Such aerosol-ice-cloud interaction on climate is called “ice indirect
effect” or “glaciation indirect effect” (Lohmann, 2002). Although the aerosol-cloud
interaction represents one of the largest uncertainties in current modulating climate (Solomon
et al., 2007), the uncertainty of “ice indirect effect”, especially such effects in mixed-phase
clouds are even acute.
Ice nucleation is depicted to increase the number concentration of ice crystals in the
cloud, initiate and increase precipitation, and reduce cloud lifetime, therefore has a positive
effect on climate radiative forcing. However, the impacts of ice nucleation on the global
climate are unquantified, because of lacking of comprehensive understanding of the
mechanism of ice nucleation and the relationship between ice nucleation and the change of
cloud properties. The glaciation temperature and supersaturation for ice nucleation are
materials, represent one of the largest difficulties in describing their ability crystalizing ice
particles in models (Murray et al., 2012).
Several reviews of ice nucleation have covered the findings in terms of the
mechanisms (Martin, 2000; Murray et al., 2012; Barahona, 2012), the effects on climate
(Wisniewski et al., 1997), field (Martin, 2000) and laboratory results (Hoose and Mohler,
2012), and modeling work of ice nucleation. To reduce the complicity of calculating ice
nucleation in the model, several parameterizations have been implemented in numerical
models. These parameterizations are based on lab or field results (Meyers et al., 1992;
Phillips et al., 2008; DeMott et al., 2010; Niemand et al., 2012), or the combination of both
lab results and classical nucleation theory (Liu and Penner, 2005; Chen et al., 2008). Since
ice cloud formation is sensitive to the treatment of ice nucleation in the model, it would be
useful to compare different ice nucleation schemes.
Giving the importance of ice nucleation on climate and the lack of understanding of
its mechanisms, the goal of this study is to analyze the sensitivity of simulated microphysical
processes and their feedbacks on cloud properties to different treatments of ice nucleation.
1.2 Objectives
In this study, the Weather Research and Forecasting model with the physics package
from the National Center for Atmospheric Research's Community Atmospheric model
version 5 (CAM5) (i.e., WRF-CAM5) is applied to simulate meteorology, air quality, and
(1) Evaluate the updated WRF-CAM5’s capability in simulating meteorological and
chemical variables;
(2) Examine the sensitivity of model predictions to different heterogeneous ice nucleation
CHAPTER 2. LITERAUTRE REVIEW
2.1 Ice Nucleation and Its Climate Impacts
Clouds are vital in the Earth’s atmosphere. Clouds modify the radiation budget by
reflecting incoming shortwave radiation and absorbing outgoing longwave radiation (IPCC
Fourth Assessment Report, 2013). Clouds reflect solar radiation back to space, cooling the
planet. However, these clouds, being cool, lead to weakened surface cooling, according to
Kirchhoff’s law (Kirchhoff, 1860). The balance of these two processes determines the net
cloud radiation forcing (Hartmann et al., 1992; Ockert-Bell and Hartmann, 1992). In
addition, as an integral part of the hydrological cycle, clouds indirectly control the climate
via its responsibility for water transport and precipitation. Cloud net climate effects are
driven by cloud properties, such as types of clouds, cloud water content, albedo, lifetime,
cloud droplet sizes and radiative properties (Lohmann and Feichter, 2005).
Tropospheric clouds can be classified into two broad categories: glaciated (cirrus)
cloud and mixed-phase clouds. Cirrus clouds, which consist of entirely ice, play an important
role in climate (Liou, 1986), water transport (Holton and Gettelman, 2001), and numerous
chemical processes (Abbatt, 2003). Mixed-phase clouds, existing in the low and middle
troposphere at temperatures between around 237 K and 273 K, are usually composed of both
ice particles and supercool water droplets. Mixed-phase clouds include cumulus, stratus, and
influence on radiation forcing and energy budget (Curry, 1995; Morrison et al., 2012). Ice
crystals exist in both types of clouds and exert an influence on climate.
Ice formation in clouds impacts the climate via three ways: 1) substantially
determines the cloud water content and affects the properties of clouds and their impacts on
the climate (Lohmann and Feichter, 2005); 2) releases a large amount of latent heat and
warms the clouds when super-cooled liquid water condenses on the surface of ice nuclei; 3)
potentially alters the energy and hydrological cycles by one of the key processes initiating
precipitation—ice crystals in the cloud (Lohmann, 2002).
Ice nucleation in troposphere occurs via two pathways: homogeneous and
heterogeneous nucleation (Hallett and Mossop, 1974). Homogeneous nucleation occurs when
the temperature is below -35℃ and water droplet contains no foreign particles. Water
droplets can freeze in the presence of IN when the temperature is below 0 ℃ by
heterogeneous nucleation. Observations indicate that heterogeneous freezing is a
predominant mechanism for lower energy barrier and supersaturations to crystallization. The
homogeneous freezing threshold for pure cloud droplets to begin crystallizing is around 237
K while heterogeneous nucleation can catalyze freezing at warmer temperatures. There are a
number of ways in which heterogeneous ice nucleation are thought to occur. These include:
(1) deposition ice nucleation, during which water directly deposits from the vapor phase to a
solid surface as ice; (2) immersion freezing, during which a solid particle is immersed in the
supercooled liquid; (3) condensation freezing, during which water vapor condenses and then
a solid particle to induce freezing (Vali, 1985). Both deposition freezing and condensation
freezing require conditions exceeding water supersaturation at freezing temperatures. The
distinction of deposition freezing and condensation freezing is difficult. Different
mechanisms of different ice nucleation are depicted in Fig. 2.1. Once ice crystal is formed,
ice crystals may begin to grow by aggregation and accretion rapidly from preexisting ice
particles. While cirrus clouds typically form from supercool water droplets in the upper
troposphere via homogeneous or heterogeneous freezing, mixed-phase clouds can glaciate at
Unlike CCN, IN are solid, insoluble, and large particles with good nucleability, such
as mineral dust (Isono et al., 1959), clay minerals (Zuberi et al., 2002), soot (Kanji and
Abbatt, 2006), and carborneous particles (Diehl et al., 2001; DeMott et al., 2009). Such
particles will lose the ability to act as IN if sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrite dioxide (NO2) or
ammonia (NH3) condense on their surfaces to form secondary aerosol. Aerosol particles are
considered as the major source of IN to form ice particles. However, only a small fraction of
aerosol particles in the atmosphere can be activated as IN, with activated fraction ranging
from 10-8 to 0.01 (Hoose and Mohlerr, 2012). The probabilities of different types of aerosol
particles to serve as IN have been investigated in numerous laboratory studies and field
campaigns (Hoose and Mohler, 2012). DeMott et al. (2003) indicated that the long-range
transported dust particles from North Africa contributed to the change of cloud properties
over Florida. Such a linkage has been found for Asian dust as well as Saharan dust (Mohler
et al., 2006; Niemand et al., 2012).
In the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2013),
the estimation of the cloud radiative forcing of aerosol through ice nucleation is unable to be
determined. The studies of the climatic impacts of ice nucleation on both cirrus cloud and
mixed-phase clouds are limited and in their infantry. While there are large uncertainties in
terms of the indirect effects of aerosol on clouds, the effects of ice nucleation on climate via
clouds are even less understood. Most of the recent studies investigated the impacts of ice
nucleation as a part of the impacts of aerosol-cloud interaction. Since aerosol particles can
liquid droplets and increase the cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC), the impacts of
aerosol on clouds are the results of the competition between the cloud sensitivity to IN and
CCN (Fig. 2.2). Rosenfeld et al. (2011) showed convective clouds forming with small droplet
sizes (10-15 µm) and low glaciation temperature (-33 °C) in a smoke plume over China. In
this scenario, aerosol particles served as CCN instead of IN, leading to a substantial increase
of CCN number concentration and changes in the ratio of CCN to IN. The increase of overall
CCN led to more, but smaller cloud droplets to a decrease in precipitation and an increase of
cloud lifetime via the warm rain processes. Lohmann (2002a) pointed out a negative
feedback loop for the aerosol effects on mixed-phase clouds. Since soot particles can act as
IN, leading to the enhancement in terms of precipitation via ice formation, aerosols will be
removed from the atmosphere. The reduction of anthropogenic aerosol burden varies from
38% to 58%. Lohmann and Diehl (2006) demonstrated that ice nucleation enhanced
precipitation, which resulted in a substantial reduction of the lifetime of clouds, therefore led
to a warming effect on climate by exploring the impacts of dust and soot particles as IN in
mixed-phase clouds. The radiative forcing was sensitive to mineral dust and ranging from 1
to 2.1 W m-2. Such impacts have counteracted the cooling effects of increased CCN
influencing warm clouds, and similar results were obtained in other studies (Storelvmo et al.,
2008; Hoose et al., 2008). Although the increase of IN leads to more precipitation, but a short
cloud lifetime, Khain et al. (2008) found that the increase of IN might not lead to an increase
of precipitation. In addition, the sign and magnitude of the effects of ice nucleation in the
Figure 2.2 Schematic diagram of warm cloud effects due to CCN (solid arrows) and
glaciation effects due to IN (dash arrows) (Lohmann and Feichter, 2005).
In summary, the climate impacts of ice nucleation are complex and the related studies
are limited. There is a severe limitation in our understanding of ice nucleation, such as
quantitative understanding of the mechanisms of ice nucleation, especially the heterogeneous
ice nucleation in the presence of atmospheric aerosol, quantification of the changes to clouds
2.2 Mechanisms of Ice Nucleation
Substantial challenges remain in ice nucleation research. Different from cloud
droplets, the shapes of ice crystals are not unique, which increase the difficulty to describe
the diameter and shape of ice crystals in the model. Mineral and soil dust, carbonaceous
particles from fossil fuel combustion and biomass burning, crystallized salts, and pure
substances can act as IN. However, the temperatures at which various substances nucleate ice
vary from Cinnabar at -16℃ to pure ice crystal at 0 ℃. Aerosols can serve as heterogeneous
IN and hence are responsible for climate change by altering the microphysical properties of
cloud and initiating precipitation, which is called “cloud indirect effect”. The efficiency of
aerosol particles to act as heterogeneous IN depends on not only their chemical composition
but also their surface properties. The laboratory results of DeMott in 1990 showed that at
temperature below -25℃, soot particles can serve as IN. Carbonaceous particles (Chen et al.,
1998) and various crustal particles (Heintzenberg et al., 1996; Targiono et al., 2006),
especially dust particles have been found as the most abundant types of IN (Prenni et al.,
2007). To describe ice nucleation in the atmosphere, a classical nucleation theory of ice
nucleation is developed.
2.2.1 Heterogeneous Classical Nucleation Theory (CNT)
Classical nucleation theory is widely applied in calculating and representing
nucleation where a new phase nucleates from the pre-existing metastable phase (Kashchiev,
observed trends through estimating the rate of nucleation based on readily available
macroscopic quantities (Murray et al., 2010). The heterogeneous CNT is adopted from the
one for homogeneous nucleation. The rate coefficient 𝐽ℎ𝑒𝑒 (cm-2 s-1) at which ice starts to
crystallize is associated to the Gibbs energy, which is required for a critical cluster forming in
an Arrhenius form (Arrhenius, 1889):
𝐽ℎ𝑒𝑒(𝑇) =𝐴ℎ𝑒𝑒 exp(−∆𝐺∗𝜑
𝑘𝑘 ) (2.1)
where ∆𝐺∗is the Gibbs free energy of forming a cluster, 𝑘 is the Boltzmann constant, T is the
temperature in K, 𝐴ℎ𝑒𝑒 is a pre-exponential factor in units of cm-2s-1, φ is a factor, which can
reduce the required energy barrier to homogeneous nucleation in the presence of a solid and
can be descripted as a function of an ice nucleating efficiency parameter, m:
2
(2 m)(1 m) 4
ϕ = + − (2.2)
The ice nucleating efficiency parameter 𝑚 can be expressed as cos θ, where θ is defined as
the contact angle that a flat surface in contact with a spherical ice nucleus. However, the
values of θ vary by the shape and materials of IN. The Gibbs energy can be written:
3 2 *
2
16
3( ln )
G
kT S
πγ n
where γ is the surface tension (surface forming energy), n is the molecular volume of the
condensed phase, and S is the supersaturation. Combining (2.1), (2.2), and (2.3), the
heterogeneous nucleation rate can be expressed as:
3 2 2
3 3 2
16 (2 m)(1 m)
ln ln
3 (ln ) 4
het
J A
k T S
πγ n + −
= −
(2.4)
Multiple assumptions are needed to make to fit equation (2.4) to experimental data. In
order to describe heterogeneous CNT, two primary methods are developed: stochastic
approach and singular approach (Pruppacher and Klett, 1997). The stochastic approach
describes heterogeneous ice nucleation based on a fundamental understanding, whereas the
singular approach develops a relatively simple way to describe heterogeneous ice nucleation
by the major ice nucleating properties of aerosol particles. Ice nucleation is dependent on
both time and the amount of IN, which is clearly described in CNT. The nucleating
probabilities are considered to be identical in some idealized laboratory experiments to
diagnose the stochastic behavior of ice nucleation. However, since aerosol particles are
different in terms of the composition, shape and size, the effects of aerosol particles on
heterogeneous ice nucleation tend to be complex. To simplify the complex behavior of ice
nucleation, a singular approach was proposed by neglecting the stochastic behavior. Hence,
IN is assumed to form an ice germ as soon as the temperature reaches the freezing point,
2.2.2 The Stochastic Description
In the single component stochastic approach, the nucleation rate R can be defined as:
R dN J sNhet dt
= = − (2.5)
Where dN is number of ice activated in time t, and s is the nucleant surface area for dN.
Integrating (2.5), the fraction of droplets frozen can be expressed as a function of time:
1
1 exp( )
ice
het n
J s t N
∆ = − − ∆
(2.6)
where ∆𝑛𝑖𝑖𝑒 is the number of droplets which freeze in a time increment (∆𝑡), and 𝑁1 is the
number of ice crystals before ∆𝑡. However, the single-contact-angle (θ) model is implied to
be inadequate to describe the process of ice nucleation (Niedermeier et al., 2011; Murray et
al., 2011). Kulkarni et al. (2012) also ascribed the great differences for simulated cloud
properties due to the width of distribution of θ.
Overcoming the disadvantage of single component stochastic approach, multiple
component stochastic approach has been developed by summing the effects of different type
of ice nucleating particles. Similar to the single component stochastic approach, the fraction
of new-activated frozen droplets in ∆𝑡 can be expressed as:
1
1 exp( )
n ice
i i i n
J s t
N =
∆ = − − ∆
where Ji and si are the temperature dependent nucleation rate coefficient and surface area,
respectively, for each ice nucleus of type i. In the multiple-stochastic approach, the ice
crystal number concentration at a given time can be calculated if the composition of aerosol
particles and the contact angle for each component is known. In a recent model study, a
probability-density-function-of-α (α –PDF) model, which uses a probability density function
of contact angles instead of single values, shows better agreement with observations in
mixed-phase clouds, with more predicted ice crystals and weaker temperature dependence,
compared to the single-contact-angle model (Wang et al., 2014).
Figure 2.3 Decay of liquid droplet with time for (a) single component model and (b) multiple
2.2.3 The Singular Description
The singular approach is based on the assumption that the stochastic behavior of
nucleation is less important than the distribution of IN types. Thus, immersion freezing by a
certain IN type cannot occur if the temperature is above a characteristic temperature, T, based
on the assumption of singular approach. The fraction of frozen droplets at temperature T, fice
, can be expressed as:
( ) ice( ) 1 exp( ( ) )
ice s
tot
n T
f T n T s
N
= = − − (2.8)
where 𝑛𝑖𝑖𝑒(𝑇) is the cumulative number of frozen droplets at temperature T, Ntot is total
number for frozen droplets, n Ts( ) is the cumulative number of nucleation sites per surface
area, and s is the nucleant surface area. Several empirical expressions (Meyers et al., 1992;
Phillips et al., 2008; DeMott et al., 2010; Niemand et al., 2012) based on freezing events
have been developed and imply a singular, time-independent ice nucleation.
2.3 Sensitivity to Explicit Ice Nucleation Schemes
Despite the importance of ice nucleation, the treatment of ice nucleation in current
numerical models is not explicit for lack of comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms
of ice nucleation and in-situ observations. To improve the prediction of ice crystal number
concentrations in numerical models, various ice nucleation schemes have been developed. To
parameterizations to calculate ice nucleation based on fitting the observed ice crystal number
concentration to temperature and/or ambient supersaturation. For instance, Meyers et al.
(1992) predicted the number of ice crystals due to deposition-condensation freezing (Nid) by
the parameterization
Nid =exp( 0.639 0.1296(100(− + Si−1))) (2.9)
where (Si -1) is the fractional ice supersaturation. Such formulation is widely used in
numerical models, such as CAM3 (DeMontt et al., 2010), CAM5 (Xie et al., 2013; English et
al., 2014), and the Hebrew University spectral microphysics cloud model (HUCM) (Khain et
al., 2008). However, the formulation is empirical and based on very limited field studies at
northern midlatitudes and may be applied over the temperature range from -7 to -20°C, ice
supersaturation range from 2% to 25%, and water supersaturation range from -5% to 4.5%.
To improve the prediction of ice crystal number concentration, the temporal and spatial
variability of IN are taken into account. Ice nuclei, generally are insoluble aerosol particles
such as dust, soot, and carbonaceous particles, are treated explicitly based on aerosol
properties.
Niemand et al. (2012) (N12) proposed a new parameterization based on the crucial
role of dust particle in condensation freezing and cloud chamber experiments. In Niemand’s
parameterization, ice crystal number concentration is a function of temperature, ambient
Ni j, =Ntot j, (1 exp( S− − ae j, n Ts( )) (2.10)
n Ts( )=exp( 0.517(T 273.15) 8.934)− − + (2.11)
where Ni,j is the number of active IN in size bin j, Ntot,j is the total number of particles in size
bin j and Sae,j is the individual particle surface area in that size bin. The density of ice-active
surface sites ns(T) is calculated based on a temperature-dependent fit to observational studies.
The valid temperature range for Niemand parameterization is -12° and -36°C.
Similarly, DeMott et al. (2010)(D10) introduced a parameterization that ice crystal
number concentration is associated with temperature and aerosol particles based on nine
separate field studies conducted over a 14-year period in many locations of the globe. The ice
nuclei number concentration at Tk (cloud temperature in degree Kelvin), nIN T,k, is given by:
, (273.16 ) ( ,0.5)( (273.16 k) ) k
c T d b
IN T k aer
n =a −T n − + (2.12)
where a = 5.94 10× −5, b = 3.33, c = 0.0264, d = 0.0033, and naer,0.5 (cm-3) is the number
concentration of aerosol particles with diameters larger than 0.5 µm. Xie et al. (2013)
compared DeMott’s scheme with Meyers’s scheme and found that DeMott’s scheme slightly
improved low-level cloud simulation over the Arctic but worsened in predicting mid-level
clouds.
An ice nucleation parameterization (Phillips et al. 2008) (P08) that fits IN
types of aerosol particles, such as dust/metallic aerosols (DM), soot particles (BC), and
insoluble organic particles (IOP) based on measurements conducted in the atmosphere. For
every species X, the number concentration of IN, can be expressed as:
, ,
, log(0.1 )
(1 exp( )) log
log
X
IN X X p X
p X m
dn
n d D
d D
m
m
∞
=
∫
− − (2.13), ,1*
,1*
( , , ) ( , ) (T) X IN X
X X p X i X i
X X
n d
D S T H S T
dn α
m =m = ⋅ξ ⋅ ⋅ Ω
Ω
,1* 2
, ,1*
( , ) (T) X IN
X i p X
X n
H S T ξ α πD
≈ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
Ω (2.14)
where nX is the number of particles in aerosol group X, nIN,1* is number mixing ratio of
reference activity spectrum for water saturation in background-troposphere scenario, Dp X,
denotes the particle diameter, ΩX is the surface area mixing ratio of all aerosols of species X
larger than 0.1 µm, while ΩX,1* is the component of ΩX in background-troposphere scenario
for aerosol diameters between 0.1 and 1 µm for species X, HX is the fraction-reducing IN
activity at low supersaturation, Si, and warm temperature, T, ξ is the ratio of number of
active IN to dust surface area, αX is the fraction of nIN,1* (HX = 1) from IN activity of
species group X, and mX is the average number of ice embryos per aerosol particle in group
temperature (0 to -70°C) and humidity (ice to water saturation) than M92, allowing for
dependencies on the chemistry and total surface area of IN aerosols.
Different from the empirical parameterization mentioned above, Chen et al. (2008)
(C08) used a statistical model that is based on the theoretical formulation of CNT with
aerosol-specific parameters constrained from experiments. The rate of heterogeneous
nucleation per aerosol particle and time J is expressed as:
# 0
, ' 2
exp( g dep) N
g f g
J A r f
kT
−∆ − ∆
= (2.15)
where A' is a prefactor in the nucleation rate calculation, f is a form factor, rN is the radius
of aerosol particles, # g
∆ is activation energy, ∆gg dep0, is homogeneous energy for germ
formation in the vapor phase, k is the Boltzmann constent, and T is the temperature in K.
The critical germ size rg dep, , ∆g0g dep, , f and A' for deposition freezing are calculated by:
/ ,
2
ln( / ) w i v g dep
si r
kT e e
n s
= (2.16)
0, 4 / 2,
3
g dep i v g dep
g π s r
∆ = (2.17)
2
' w i v/ w s e v A
m kTv kT
s
1(1 (1 )3 q (2 3(3 ) ( ) ) 3 mq (3 2 1)) 2
mq q m q m q m
f
f f f f
− − − −
= + + − + + − (2.19)
Here 2
1 2mq q
f = − + , q≡rN /rg dep, , m=cosθ is called the wetting coefficient, θ is the
contact angle of ice germ on the substrate, e is the water vapor pressure, /e esi is the
suppersaturation over ice, si v/ is the surface tension between ice and water vapor, vs is the
vibration frequency of a water molecule attached to a surface, mwis the mass of a water
molecule, and nw is the volume of a water molecule in ice. In C08, rN, the maximum of f ,
θ, and ∆g# vary for different types of aerosols. Only soot and dust are taken into account in
deposition nucleation in C08.
Table 2.1 summarizes the major features of M92, N12, D10, P08, and C08. In this
work, WRF-CAM5 simulations using M92 and N12 over East Asia will be compared. The
major differences between M92 and N12 ice nucleation parameterization are (1) M92 fits ice
crystal number concentration as a function ambient supersaturation, which, however, it does
not link ice nuclei number concentration to aerosol properties, whereas N12 considers dust
particle number concentrations and surface area concentrations in the parameterization as
well; (2) N12 treats ice nucleation bins by bins whereas M92 only simulates total ice crystal
number concentration. In this study, the comparison of WRF-CAM5 simulated with M92 and
Table 2.1 Comparison of major features of M92, N12, D10, P08, and C08
Scheme M92 N12 D10 P08 C08
Type of approach
Singular Singular Singular Singular Stochastic
Data sources Field studies Lab/Chamber
experiments
Field studies Field studies Lab data
Nature of parameterization
Empirical Empirical Empirical Empirical
Semi-empirical
Dependent Variables
Sa Tb & surface area of dust T & aerosols
(d>0.5µm)
T, S, DMc,
BCd & IOPe
T, S, tf, soot
& dust
Aerosol treatment
Bulk Sectional distribution Bulk, only consider
total number concentration Bulk, only consider total number concentration Bulk, only consider total number concentration
Applicable T
range
-7 to -20 °C -12 to -36 °C 0 to -35 °C 0 to -70 °C
0 to -38 °C
Applicable S
range
-5% to 4.5% > 0% > 0% > 0% > 0%
Limitation No
dependence on aerosols
Depends on dust only Depends on total
aerosol but without distinction of aerosol types Uncertainties in the presence of artificial aerosols Single contact angle of aerosol
Strength Simple, easy
to apply
Link dust to ice nucleation
Easy to apply
Link aerosol to ice nucleation
Easy to apply
Wide T and S range Link aerosol to ice nucleation Link aerosol to ice nucleation Theoretically sound a
S – Supersaturation
b
T – Temperature
c
DM – Dust/metallic aerosols
d
BC – Soot particles
e
IOP – Insoluble organic particles
f
CHAPTER 3. DESCRIPTION OF MODEL, DATABASE, AND METHODOLOGY
3.1 Modeling System
This research is to focus on model evaluation and sensitivity to ice nucleation
treatments using WRF-CAM5. The WRF version 3.5 released as of April 18, 2013 and CAM
version 5.0 are used in WRF-CAM5. CAM5 shows significant improvements in the
representations of cloud and aerosol processes (Neale et al., 2010). CAM5 physics suite
(including the treatment of aerosol, cloud microphysics, deep and shallow convections, and
turbulence) has been implemented in WRF by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
(PNNL) (Ma et al., 2014) to estimate radiative forcing and climate impacts of aerosols. This
modeling framework allows research at high resolutions with a lower cost than WRF/Chem
model. A cloud macrophysics scheme (Park et al., 2014) that treats fractional cloudiness and
condensation/evaporation rates within stratiform clouds is used in WRF-CAM5, whereas in
WRF/Chem, the cloud parameterization does not account for fractional clouds. WRF-CAM5
improves the cloud predictions comparing to WRF/Chem (Ma et al., 2014). Table 3.1
summarizes of the major physics and chemistry options used in this study.
The modeling domain, shown in Fig. 3.1, with 36 × 36 km2 horizontal resolution
(163 × 97 horizontal grid cells), is centered over East Asia, including entire China, Northeast
Asian Countries such as Japan, North Korea and South Korea, parts of Southeast Asian
countries, such as Vietnam, and Thailand, and Northern part of India. The vertical structure