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Miyamoto, Y., S. Nishizawa, and H. Tomita, 2020: Impacts of number of cloud condensation nuclei on two-dimensional moist Rayleigh convection. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 98, 437-453.
https://doi.org/10.2151/jmsj.2020-023
Graphical Abstract

Plain Language Summary: The impacts of number of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) on moist Rayleigh convection were examined by using a simple 2D fluid model with a double moment microphysics model. The effect is most prominent in the initially formed convection, whereas the convection in the quasi-steady state does not significantly depend on the number of CCN. It is suggested that the former convection forms by local buoyancy, while the latter is largely influenced by boundaries.

Highlights:

• The number of CCN affects convective cells initially formed in simulations, whereas the cells during the quasi-steady state are not sensitive.
• The overall impacts of incorporating a double-moment cloud microphysics are to reduce the integrated kinetic energy and number of convective cells (increase the distance between the cells).