Articles | Volume 23, issue 21
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-13791-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Special issue:
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-13791-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Opinion
| Highlight paper
| 
06 Nov 2023
Opinion | Highlight paper |
| 06 Nov 2023
| 06 Nov 2023
Opinion: A critical evaluation of the evidence for aerosol invigoration of deep convection
Atmospheric Sciences and Global Change Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
Adele L. Igel
Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
Hugh Morrison
National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA
Wojciech W. Grabowski
National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA
Zachary J. Lebo
School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
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Cited
19 citations as recorded by crossref.
- How does the lifetime of detrained cirrus impact the high-cloud radiative effect in the tropics? G. Horner & E. Gryspeerdt 10.5194/acp-25-5617-2025
- Microphysical analysis on the impacts of reduced aerosol concentrations on tropical cyclone precipitation in South China Area H. Mak et al. 10.1016/j.atmosres.2025.108405
- Microphysical fingerprints in anvil cloud albedo D. Finney et al. 10.5194/acp-25-10907-2025
- Observed impacts of aerosol concentration on maritime tropical convection within constrained environments using airborne radiometer, radar, lidar, and dropsondes C. Amiot et al. 10.5194/acp-25-12335-2025
- Aerosol-Induced Invigoration of Cumulus Clouds—A Review W. Cotton 10.3390/atmos15080924
- Assessing the influence of aerosols on urban precipitation: A sensitivity study of Dallas–Fort Worth G. Moraglia & P. Crippa 10.1016/j.atmosres.2025.108436
- Multifaceted aerosol effects on precipitation P. Stier et al. 10.1038/s41561-024-01482-6
- Seasonal investigation of ultrafine-particle organic composition in an eastern Amazonian rainforest A. Thomas et al. 10.5194/acp-25-959-2025
- Impacts of wildfire smoke aerosols on radiation, clouds, precipitation, climate, and air quality R. Barjeste Vaezi et al. 10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100322
- Recent Advances in the Observation and Modeling of Aerosol-Cloud Interactions, Cloud Feedbacks, and Earth’s Energy Imbalance: A Review T. Michibata et al. 10.1007/s40726-025-00382-6
- Weak influence of anthropogenic emissions on aerosol, cloud, and rain in the wet season of the Amazon rainforest X. Wang et al. 10.5194/acp-25-9685-2025
- Large spatiotemporal variability in aerosol properties over central Argentina during the CACTI field campaign J. Fast et al. 10.5194/acp-24-13477-2024
- Lightning declines over shipping lanes following regulation of fuel sulfur emissions C. Wright et al. 10.5194/acp-25-2937-2025
- Large effects of fine and coarse aerosols on tropical deep convective systems throughout their lifecycle J. Yin et al. 10.1038/s41612-024-00739-6
- On the sensitivity of aerosol–cloud interactions to changes in sea surface temperature in radiative–convective equilibrium S. Lorian & G. Dagan 10.5194/acp-24-9323-2024
- Invited perspectives: Thunderstorm intensification from mountains to plains J. Fischer et al. 10.5194/nhess-25-2629-2025
- Aerosol impacts on isolated deep convection: findings from TRACER D. Wang et al. 10.5194/acp-25-9295-2025
- The impacts of shipping emissions on lightning: roles of aerosol-radiation-interactions and aerosol-cloud-interactions R. Sun et al. 10.1088/1748-9326/ad2aba
- Modulation of Tropical Convection‐Circulation Interaction by Aerosol Indirect Effects in Convective Self‐Aggregation Simulations of a Gray Zone Global Model C. Su et al. 10.1029/2023JD040190
17 citations as recorded by crossref.
- How does the lifetime of detrained cirrus impact the high-cloud radiative effect in the tropics? G. Horner & E. Gryspeerdt 10.5194/acp-25-5617-2025
- Microphysical analysis on the impacts of reduced aerosol concentrations on tropical cyclone precipitation in South China Area H. Mak et al. 10.1016/j.atmosres.2025.108405
- Microphysical fingerprints in anvil cloud albedo D. Finney et al. 10.5194/acp-25-10907-2025
- Observed impacts of aerosol concentration on maritime tropical convection within constrained environments using airborne radiometer, radar, lidar, and dropsondes C. Amiot et al. 10.5194/acp-25-12335-2025
- Aerosol-Induced Invigoration of Cumulus Clouds—A Review W. Cotton 10.3390/atmos15080924
- Assessing the influence of aerosols on urban precipitation: A sensitivity study of Dallas–Fort Worth G. Moraglia & P. Crippa 10.1016/j.atmosres.2025.108436
- Multifaceted aerosol effects on precipitation P. Stier et al. 10.1038/s41561-024-01482-6
- Seasonal investigation of ultrafine-particle organic composition in an eastern Amazonian rainforest A. Thomas et al. 10.5194/acp-25-959-2025
- Impacts of wildfire smoke aerosols on radiation, clouds, precipitation, climate, and air quality R. Barjeste Vaezi et al. 10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100322
- Recent Advances in the Observation and Modeling of Aerosol-Cloud Interactions, Cloud Feedbacks, and Earth’s Energy Imbalance: A Review T. Michibata et al. 10.1007/s40726-025-00382-6
- Weak influence of anthropogenic emissions on aerosol, cloud, and rain in the wet season of the Amazon rainforest X. Wang et al. 10.5194/acp-25-9685-2025
- Large spatiotemporal variability in aerosol properties over central Argentina during the CACTI field campaign J. Fast et al. 10.5194/acp-24-13477-2024
- Lightning declines over shipping lanes following regulation of fuel sulfur emissions C. Wright et al. 10.5194/acp-25-2937-2025
- Large effects of fine and coarse aerosols on tropical deep convective systems throughout their lifecycle J. Yin et al. 10.1038/s41612-024-00739-6
- On the sensitivity of aerosol–cloud interactions to changes in sea surface temperature in radiative–convective equilibrium S. Lorian & G. Dagan 10.5194/acp-24-9323-2024
- Invited perspectives: Thunderstorm intensification from mountains to plains J. Fischer et al. 10.5194/nhess-25-2629-2025
- Aerosol impacts on isolated deep convection: findings from TRACER D. Wang et al. 10.5194/acp-25-9295-2025
2 citations as recorded by crossref.
- The impacts of shipping emissions on lightning: roles of aerosol-radiation-interactions and aerosol-cloud-interactions R. Sun et al. 10.1088/1748-9326/ad2aba
- Modulation of Tropical Convection‐Circulation Interaction by Aerosol Indirect Effects in Convective Self‐Aggregation Simulations of a Gray Zone Global Model C. Su et al. 10.1029/2023JD040190
Latest update: 30 Oct 2025
Executive editor
This provocative opinion piece examines the theoretical, numerical, and observational evidence in support of two highly cited proposed mechanisms for invigorating deep convective clouds through higher aerosol concentrations. Both start with high concentrations of water droplets. Through cold-phase invigoration, precipitation is reduced allowing for greater release of latent heat from freezing higher up in clouds. With warm-phase invigoration, increased latent heating occurs lower down due to accelerated liquid condensation. In both cases, the article persuasively argues from a variety of standpoints that the evidence to support the importance of the effects is weak, particularly once the full complexity of clouds and their interactions with their environment is fully taken into account. Concrete suggestions are made for improving definition, observations, and modeling of the problem, but also an admonishment that attention in the field might be better directed towards more fruitful aspects of the aerosol-cloud interaction problem.
This provocative opinion piece examines the theoretical, numerical, and observational evidence...
Short summary
As atmospheric particles called aerosols increase in number, the number of droplets in clouds tends to increase, which has been theorized to increase storm intensity. We critically evaluate the evidence for this theory, showing that flaws and limitations of previous studies coupled with unaddressed cloud process complexities draw it into question. We provide recommendations for future observations and modeling to overcome current uncertainties.
As atmospheric particles called aerosols increase in number, the number of droplets in clouds...
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