Effects of Ice Nuclei Particle Parameterization on Cloud Formation and Electrification Using the COMMAS Model

Ice Nuclei Particles (INP) are aerosol particles that promote the formation of ice crystals in clouds via heterogeneous freezing. A variety of INP parameterizations have been used in various cloud models. For the purposes of this research, we use the idealized cloud model from the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), the Collaborative Model for Atmospheric Simulation (COMMAS) and the NSSL microphysics scheme, which currently carries three INP parameterizations: Cooper/Thompson, Phillips, and Meyers/Ferrier. Further comparisons will be made with the DeMott (2010) parameterization. By varying these parameterization schemes, we are able to observe the influence of INP on both cloud microphysics and electrification. Preliminary results show an overshadowing of the INP schemes by droplet freezing. In our presentation, we will present the different INP parameterizations and show how each affects cloud microphysical parameters such as number concentrations of ice crystals, snow, and hail, as well as effects on cloud electrification.