Preliminary results of an aerosol-aware bulk microphysics scheme in WRF

The Thompson et al (2008) bulk microphysics scheme was recently upgraded to include the explicit treatment of cloud droplet activation and ice nucleation via aerosols. From assumed input aerosols of sulfates and sea salts, CCN activation is accomplished using pre-tabulated values provided by a parcel model. Also ice nucleation is parameterized as a function of input dust aerosols as well as homogeneous freezing of deliquescenced aerosols. The new scheme is tested in various WRF simulations and sensitivity analyses will be presented.