The Size Distribution of Cloud Droplets Measured in Small Maritime Cumulus Clouds

Abstract

In a transitional airmass situation cloud droplet measurements were made from stratocumulus and fair-weather cumulus using newly devised MgO type instrument, on which brief description is given in this paper. It was found that an extremely large number of large drops were existing in a growing cumulus tower from the strato-cumulus, though the cloud depth is relatively thin, around 1200m. Cloud droplet size and concentration seem to vary very sensitively to the evolutional life time of the cloud tower, in a manner that with larger drops and water content in the mature stage and vice versa in the decaying stage. In this paper the frequency of parameters, number concentration N, liquid water content L, and median volume diameter D₅₀ are given for reference as well as the mean size distributions of cloud droplets.