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Cloud-top entrainment in stratocumulus clouds

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Mellado,  Juan-Pedro
Max Planck Research Group Turbulent Mixing Processes in the Earth System, The Atmosphere in the Earth System, MPI for Meteorology, Max Planck Society;

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Citation

Mellado, J.-P. (2017). Cloud-top entrainment in stratocumulus clouds. Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics, 49, 145-169. doi:10.1146/annurev-fluid-010816-060231.


Cite as: https://hdl.handle.net/11858/00-001M-0000-002C-436B-2
Abstract
Cloud entrainment, the mixing between cloudy and clear air at the boundary of clouds, constitutes one paradigm for the relevance of small scales in the Earth system: By regulating cloud lifetimes, meter- and submeter-scale processes at cloud boundaries can influence planetary-scale properties. Understanding cloud entrainment is difficult given the complexity and diversity of the associated phenomena, which include turbulence entrainment within a stratified medium, convective instabilities driven by radiative and evaporative cooling, shear instabilities, and cloud microphysics. Obtaining accurate data at the required small scales is also challenging, for both simulations and measurements. During the past few decades, however, high-resolution simulations and measurements have greatly advanced our understanding of the main mechanisms controlling cloud entrainment. This article reviews some of these advances, focusing on stratocumulus clouds, and indicates remaining challenges. © Copyright 2017 by Annual Reviews. All rights reserved.