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Ice particles play an important role in precipitation formation and radiation balance. Therefore, an accurate description of ice initiation in the atmosphere is of great importance for weather prediction models and climate simulations. Despite the abundance of ice crystals in the atmosphere, the mechanisms for their formation remain not well understood. There are two major sets of mechanisms of ice initiation in the atmosphere: primary nucleation and secondary ice production. Secondary ice production occurs in the presence of preexisting ice, which results in an enhancement of the concentration of ice particles. Until recently, secondary ice production was mainly attributed to the rime-splintering mechanism, known as the Hallett–Mossop process, which is active in a relatively narrow temperature range from −3 to −8 ∘C. The existence of the Hallett–Mossop process was well supported by in situ observations. The present study provides an explicit in situ observation of secondary ice production at temperatures as low as −27 ∘C, which is well outside the range of the Hallett–Mossop process. This observation expands our knowledge of the temperature range of initiation of secondary ice in clouds. The obtained results are intended to stimulate laboratory and theoretical studies to develop physically based parameterizations for weather prediction and climate models.

High ice water content (HIWC) regions with small ice crystals, where ice water contents (IWCs) are greater than 1.5 g m-3 and median mass diameters (MMDs) less than about 300 micrometers, occur above tropical mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) and can have detrimental impacts on aircraft engines. Data collected by the French Falcon aircraft and the National Research Council of Canada Convair-580 during the 2014 and 2015 High Altitude Ice Crystals and High Ice Water Content (HAIC/HIWC) projects are revisited here along with coordinated modeling studies to investigate processes that can produce such HIWCs. In particular, data collected from 2014 in the vicinity of Darwin Australia and from 2015 in the vicinity of Cayenne French Guyana are used to determine how bulk microphysical properties (e.g., number concentration, IWC, median volume diameter) and characteristics of ice crystal size distributions (i.e., multimodal nature, parameters fit to gamma distributions for each mode) vary with environmental conditions such as temperature, vertical velocity, MCS age, distance from MCS core, and surface characteristics. It is determined that temperature and vertical velocity are the biggest controls of small ice crystals, but younger cells, stronger convective strengths and closer proximity to convective cores also increase the relative importance of small crystals.Numerical simulations conducted using the Weather Research and Forecasting model with four different bulk microphysics schemes generally reproduce the observed temperature, dew-point, and wind structure. However, comparison of regime-specific observations against properties simulated over Cayenne using a variety of existing parameterization schemes show that although the coverage and evolution of convection is well predicted, simulations overestimate the intensity and spatial extent of observed airborne X-band radar reflectivity and do not well depict the peak of observed size distributions with maximum dimensions between 0.1 and 1 mm. To explore formation mechanisms for large numbers of small ice crystals, a series of simulations varying the representation of secondary ice production (SIP) processes were conducted. Simulations including one of three SIP mechanisms separately (i.e., the Hallett–Mossop mechanism, fragmentation during ice–ice collisions, and shattering of freezing droplets) did not replicate the observed ratio of number concentration divided by IWC. However, the simulation including all three SIP processes produced HIWC regions consistent with observations in terms of number concentration and radar reflectivity, which was not replicated using the original P3 two-ice category configuration that only included the Hallett-Mossop mechanism. In summary, observations and simulations show primary ice production plays a key role in generating HIWC regions at temperatures < -40 Celsius, shattering of freezing droplets dominates ice particle production in HIWC regions between -15 and 0 Celsius during the early stage of convection, and fragmentation during ice–ice collisions dominates between -15 and 0 Celsius during the later stage of convection and between -40 and -20 Celsius over the whole convection period. This study thus shows the dominant role of SIP processes in the formation of numerous small crystals in HIWC regions. Implications for future measurement and modeling needs are discussed.

Secondary ice production (SIP) is an important physical phenomenon that results in an increase in the ice particle concentration and can therefore have a significant impact on the evolution of clouds. In this study, idealized simulations of a mesoscale convective system (MCS) were conducted using a high-resolution (250 m horizontal grid spacing) mesoscale model and a detailed bulk microphysics scheme in order to examine the impacts of SIP on the microphysics and dynamics of a simulated tropical MCS. The simulations were compared to airborne in situ and remote sensing observations collected during the “High Altitude Ice Crystals – High Ice Water Content” (HAIC-HIWC) field campaign in 2015. It was found that the observed high ice number concentration can only be simulated by models that include SIP processes. The inclusion of SIP processes in the microphysics scheme is crucial for the production and maintenance of the high ice water content observed in tropical convection. It was shown that SIP can enhance the strength of the existing convective updrafts and result in the initiation of new updrafts above the melting layer. Agreement between the simulations and observations highlights the impacts of SIP on the maintenance of tropical MCSs in nature and the importance of including SIP parameterizations in models.

Mixed-phase clouds are globally omnipresent and play a major role in the Earth's radiation budget and precipitation formation. The existence of liquid droplets in presence of ice particles is microphysically unstable and depends on a delicate balance of several competing processes. Understanding mechanisms that govern ice initiation and moisture supply are important to understand the life-cycle of such clouds. This study presents observations that reveal the onset of drizzle inside a ∼600 m deep mixed-phase layer embedded in a stratiform precipitation system. Using Doppler spectra analysis, we show how large supercooled liquid droplets are generated in Kelvin-Helmholtz (K-H) instability despite ice particles falling from upper cloud layers. The spectral width of supercooled liquid water mode in radar Doppler spectrum is used to identify a region of increased turbulence. The observations show that large liquid droplets, characterized by reflectivity values larger than −20 dBZ, are generated in this region. In addition to cloud droplets, Doppler spectral analysis reveals the production of the columnar ice crystals in the K-H billows. The modelling study estimates that the concentration of these ice crystals is 3 ∼ 8 L−1, which is at least one order of magnitude higher than that of primary ice nucleating particles. Given the detail of the observations, we show that multiple populations of secondary ice particles are generated in regions where larger cloud droplets are produced and not at some constant level within the cloud. It is therefore hypothesized that K-H instability provides conditions favorable for enhanced droplet growth and formation of secondary ice particles.

The present study considers final stages of in-cloud mixing in the framework of classical concept of homogeneous and extreme inhomogeneous mixing. Simple analytical relationships between basic microphysical parameters were obtained for homogeneous and extreme inhomogeneous mixing based on the adiabatic consideration. It was demonstrated that during homogeneous mixing the functional relationships between the moments of the droplets size distribution hold only during the primary stage of mixing. Subsequent random mixing between already mixed parcels and undiluted cloud parcels breaks these relationships. However, during extreme inhomogeneous mixing the functional relationships between the microphysical parameters hold both for primary and subsequent mixing. The obtained relationships can be used to identify the type of mixing from in situ observations. The effectiveness of the developed method was demonstrated using in situ data collected in convective clouds. It was found that for the specific set of in situ measurements the interaction between cloudy and entrained environments was dominated by extreme inhomogeneous mixing.

An idealized model of time-dependent mixing between cloud and non-cloud volumes is analyzed. Initial droplet size distribution (DSD) in cloud volume is assumed to be monodisperse. Both analytical investigation and parcel model investigation are used to study mixing processes and solve diffusion-evaporation equations. It is shown that the evolution of microphysical variables and the final equilibrium stage are unambiguously determined by two non-dimensional parameters. The first parameter, R, which is proportional to the ratio of the saturation deficit to the liquid water content in a cloud volume, determines whether the equilibrium stage is reached at 100 % relative humidity, or, rather, leads to a full evaporation of cloud droplets. The second parameter, Da, is the Damkölher number, which is equal to the ratio of the characteristic mixing time and phase relaxation time. This parameter (together with parameter R) determines whether mixing takes place according to a homogeneous or an inhomogeneous scenario. An analysis of the results obtained within a wide range of parameters R and Da is presented. It is shown that there is no pure homogeneous mixing, since the first stage of mixing is always inhomogeneous. Turbulent mixing between different volumes always starts as inhomogeneous and the mixing type can change during the mixing process. At any values of governing parameters, mixing leads to the formation of a tail of small droplets in the DSD and therefore to DSD broadening. The broadening depends onDa and the final DSD dispersion can be as large as 0.2 at large Da. The total duration of the mixing process varies from several to one hundred phase relaxation times, depending on R and Da. Delimitation between the types of mixing on the Da–R plane is carried out. The definitions of homogeneous and inhomogeneous mixings are reconsidered and clarified. The paper also compares the results of the current study with those obtained with classical mixing concepts.

The COnvective Precipitation Experiment (COPE) was designed to investigate the origins of heavy convective precipitation over the South Western UK, a region that experiences flash flooding due to heavy precipitation from slow-moving convective systems. In this study, the microphysical and dynamical characteristics of developing turrets during four days in July and August, 2013 are analyzed. In situ cloud microphysical measurements from the University of Wyoming King Air and vertically pointing W-band radar measurements from Wyoming Cloud Radar are examined, together with data from the ground-based NXPol radar. The four days presented here cover a range of environmental conditions in terms of wind shear and instability, resulting in a similarly wide variability in observed ice crystal concentrations, both across days as well as between clouds on individual days. The highest concentration of ice was observed on the days in which there was an active warm rain process supplying precipitation-sized liquid drops. The high ice concentrations observed (> 100 L−1) are consistent with the production of secondary ice particles through the Hallett-Mossop process. Turrets that ascended through remnant cloud layers above the 0 °C level had higher ice particle concentrations, suggesting that entrainment of ice particles from older clouds or previous thermals may have acted to aid in the production of secondary ice through the Hallett-Mossop process. Other mechanisms such as the shattering of frozen drops may be more important for producing ice in more isolated clouds.

Occurrences of jet engine power loss and damage have been associated with flight through fully glaciated deep convection at −10 to −50 °C. Power loss events commonly occur during flight through radar reflectivity (Ze) less than 20–30 dBZ and no more than moderate turbulence, often overlying moderate to heavy rain near the surface. During 2010–2012, Airbus carried out flight tests seeking to characterize the highest ice water content (IWC) in such low-Ze regions of large, cold-topped storm systems in the vicinity of Cayenne, Darwin, and Santiago. Within the highest IWC regions encountered, at typical sampling elevations (circa 11 km), the measured ice size distributions exhibit a notably narrow concentration of mass over area-equivalent diameters of 100–500 μm. Given substantial and poorly quantified measurement uncertainties, here we evaluate the consistency of the Airbus in situ measurements with ground-based profiling radar observations obtained under quasi-steady, heavy stratiform rain conditions in one of the Airbus-sampled locations. We find that profiler-observed radar reflectivities and mean Doppler velocities at Airbus sampling temperatures are generally consistent with those calculated from in situ size-distribution measurements. We also find that column simulations using the in situ size distributions as an upper boundary condition are generally consistent with observed profiles of Ze, mean Doppler velocity (MDV), and retrieved rain rate. The results of these consistency checks motivate an examination of the microphysical pathways that could be responsible for the observed size-distribution features in Ackerman et al. (2015).

Shattering presents a serious obstacle to current airborne in situ methods of characterizing the microphysical properties of ice clouds. Small shattered fragments result from the impact of natural ice crystals with the forward parts of aircraft-mounted measurement probes. The presence of these shattered fragments may result in a significant overestimation of the measured concentration of small ice crystals, contaminating the measurement of the ice particle size distribution (PSD). One method of identifying shattered particles is to use an inter-arrival time algorithm. This method is based on the assumption that shattered fragments form spatial clusters that have short inter-arrival times between particles, relative to natural particles, when they pass through the sample volume of the probe. The inter-arrival time algorithm is a successful technique for the classification of shattering artifacts and natural particles. This study assesses the limitations and efficiency of the inter-arrival time algorithm. The analysis has been performed using simultaneous measurements of two-dimensional (2-D) optical array probes with the standard and antishattering "K-tips" collected during the Airborne Icing Instrumentation Experiment (AIIE). It is shown that the efficiency of the algorithm depends on ice particle size, concentration and habit. Additional numerical simulations indicate that the effectiveness of the inter-arrival time algorithm to eliminate shattering artifacts can be significantly restricted in some cases. Improvements to the inter-arrival time algorithm are discussed. It is demonstrated that blind application of the inter-arrival time algorithm cannot filter out all shattered aggregates. To mitigate against the effects of shattering, the inter-arrival time algorithm should be used together with other means, such as antishattering tips and specially designed algorithms for segregation of shattered artifacts and natural particles.

Evolution of monodisperse and polydisperse droplet size distributions (DSD) during homogeneous mixing is analyzed. Time-dependent universal analytical expressions for supersaturation and liquid water content are derived. For an initial monodisperse DSD, these quantities are shown to depend on a sole non-dimensional parameter. The evolution of moments and moment-related functions in the course of homogeneous evaporation of polydisperse DSD is analyzed using a parcel model.It is shown that the classic conceptual scheme, according to which homogeneous mixing leads to a decrease in droplet mass at constant droplet concentration, is valid only in cases of monodisperse or initially very narrow polydisperse DSD. In cases of wide polydisperse DSD, mixing and successive evaporation lead to a decrease of both mass and concentration, so the characteristic droplet sizes remain nearly constant. As this feature is typically associated with inhomogeneous mixing, we conclude that in cases of an initially wide DSD at cloud top, homogeneous mixing is nearly indistinguishable from inhomogeneous mixing.