Distinct impacts of aerosols on an evolving continental cloud system during the RACORO field campaign (Invited Presentation)

In this paper, we present model simulations for a continental cloud system occurring during the Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Routine AAF Clouds with Low Optical Water Depths Optical Radiative Observations (RACORO) field campaign to investigate the aerosol effects on different cloud regimes and their transitions. A cloud-resolving Weather Research and Forecast (CR-WRF) model with a two-moment bulk microphysics and a modified Goddard radiation scheme is employed to account for the aerosol indirect microphysical effect (AIE) and the aerosol direct radiative effect (ARE), respectively. Our results indicate that the overall aerosol effects on the cloud complex are distinct from those of the individual cloud types and the aerosol-cloud interaction for the diverse cloud regimes and their transitions throughout the cloud lifecycle should be evaluated to assess the aerosol direct and indirect radiative forcings on regional and global climate.