From a global viewpoint, meteorological phenomena related to the weather during a few days can be considered as phenomena in only a thin layer at the bottom of the atmosphere. This resembles the nature of the surface phenomena of solids which are characterized by a “thin” surface layer distinguished from the bulk. Another feature of meteorological phenomena is that some of the meteorological disturbances have some smaller structure in themselves. This stratified structure of the meteorological disturbances enhances the variety of weather changes. In the rainmaking process in clouds generated in the temperate zone, not only diffusion and condensation of water vapor but also coalescence of raindrops and rapid growth of the ice crystals under the coexistence of ice crystals and supercooled cloud droplets play an important role. A process similar to the ice crystal growth process in clouds is also seen in the growth process of polycrystalline silicon films formed by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition.
