Cloud formation through isobaric mixing in turbulent Rayleigh- Bénard convection

Abstract eng:
Cloud formation through isobaric mixing of water vapor in turbulent Rayleigh-B´enard convection is studied in the Michigan Tech Pi Chamber (aspect ratio, diameter over height, of 2). Steady-state cloud conditions are achieved, allowing reliable sampling of turbulent time series of air velocity, temperature, water vapor concentration, and cloud droplet size distribution. The water vapor and temperature measurements allow for quantification of the turbulent fluctuations of water vapor supersaturation. For large temperature differences (high Rayleigh number), the droplet size distributions exhibit a pronounced large-drop tail reminiscent of drizzle formation. This opens the door for controlled, laboratory studies of aerosol-cloud-drizzle interactions.

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