Contrasting influences of aerosols on cloud properties during deficient and abundant monsoon years.

ABSTRACT: Direct aerosol radiative forcing facilitates the onset of Indian monsoon rainfall, based on synoptic scale fast responses acting over timescales of days to a month. Here, we examine relationships between aerosols and coincident clouds over the Indian subcontinent, using observational data from 2000 to 2009, from the core monsoon region. Season mean and daily timescales were considered. The correlation analyses of cloud properties with aerosol optical depth revealed that deficient monsoon years were characterized by more frequent and larger decreases in cloud drop size and ice water path, but increases in cloud top pressure, with increases in aerosol abundance. The opposite was observed during abundant monsoon years. The correlations of greater aerosol abundance, with smaller cloud drop siz

SUBMITTER: Patil N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5364465 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature