Modeling of LBA/CLAIRE/SMOCC-2002 cloud microphysics preliminary results

A parcel model with detailed microphysics was used to simulate different cloud microphysics regimes observed during the LBA/CLAIRE/SMOCC-2002 field campaign in Amazonia. The model contains 267 particle categories, including 144 supersaturation classes of CCN, 23 size classes of giant CCN and 100 droplet/raindrop bins and has a comprehensive representation of microphysical processes, comprising nucleation, condensational growth, collision-coalescence and collisional and spontaneous raindrop breakup. The model was capable of simulating the behavior of clouds in a wide range of environments, from very clean to heavily polluted. Results agree with previous works, which suggest that polluted environments strongly suppress precipitation development, especially if giant CCN are not present. On the other hand, if a significant amount of giant CCN become available, the increase of the effective diameter with height is almost insensitive for droplet concentrations greater than 1000 cm^-3. The parcel model results can be used to develop better parameterizations of the aerosol indirect effect in large-scale models for climate studies.