M. P. Khairoutdinov and Y.L. Kogan
Cooperative Institute of Mesoscale Meteorological Studies
University of Oklahoma
Norman, OK 73019
405-325-6078
Based on the simulations with a 3-D large-eddy simulation model of marine cloud-topped boundary layer that includes explicit cloud physics formulation, we have studied the stratocumulus cloud layer supersaturation field. It is shown that, as a result of a strong radiative cooling at the cloud top, the supersaturation has a distinct maximum near the top of the cloud. The value of supersaturation in a rather thin layer near the cloud top is about 50-100% larger than in regions inside the cloud that are far away from the boundaries.
The increased supersaturations near the cloud top significantly affect the
cloud microphysical and radiative parameters. The important implications of
this effect for the satellite microphysical and radiative retrieval problem
will be discussed.