On the Temperature of the Air and the Growth of Cloud Particles in Convective Clouds

Studies on the Formation of cloud and Rain Part I

Abstract

The author studied the air temperature and the drop size of cloud particles formed in the adiabatically ascending current which contains condensation nuclei of the same size. Results which were obtained are as follows.
(1) Cloud particles grow very rapidly in the lower layer of the cloud, therefore the base of cloud must be sharp and well defined which is in accordance with the well-known fact.
(2) Because of the rapid condensation near the base a temperature inversion is formed in this region. It is more predominent when the nucleus is small and the temperature of the upward current is high.
(3) Above the inversion layer the temperature depends on the size of nucleus and is higher as the nucleus is smaller, but is independent on the number of the nucleus contained. The lapse-rate of the temperature is in this region independent not only on the number but also on the size of the nucleus and is equal to the wet adiabatic lapse-rate.
(4) The temperature and the drop size of cloud particles are somewhat lower (smaller) as the upward velocity of the air is larger, but the effect is considerablly small.