Hidden anatomy of clouds reveals how rain may begin without ice crystals
Researchers have identified submeter regions of droplet clustering within shallow cumulus clouds that may explain how rain forms without ice crystals. Using the CloudKite platform, the team discovered that these clusters facilitate the droplet collisions necessary for rainfall initiation.
Why it matters
Understanding the mechanics of rain formation in shallow clouds is crucial for improving the accuracy of global climate models and weather forecasting.
edited by Swati Mestri , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source Shallow clouds show regions of high particle clustering that may be the key for rain formation. Credit: Max Planck Society The initiation of rain in clouds without ice remains one of the largest unsolved mysteries in atmospheric science.
Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPI-DS) have uncovered previously invisible structures within shallow cumulus clouds in their study published in PNAS .
Using the unique Max Planck CloudKite platform, the team discovered submeter regions where cloud droplets cluster together. Such areas provide ideal conditions for droplet collisions, which in turn have a high chance of triggering rainfall.
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