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
27 citations as recorded by crossref.
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- Causal machine learning uncovers conditions for convective intensification driven by organic and sulfate aerosols D. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-28939-x
- Idealized simulations reveal the potential for widespread high supersaturation in marine tropical deep convection C. Fan et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2026.109091
- Multifaceted aerosol effects on precipitation P. Stier et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-024-01482-6
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- Weak influence of anthropogenic emissions on aerosol, cloud, and rain in the wet season of the Amazon rainforest X. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-9685-2025
- Large spatiotemporal variability in aerosol properties over central Argentina during the CACTI field campaign J. Fast et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13477-2024
- Impacts of Aerosol Concentration Changes on Cloud Microphysics and Convective Intensity of the Southwest Vortex: Insights from MODIS Observations and Numerical Simulations Y. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos17030259
- Impacts of biomass burning smoke in clouds and rainfall in southern Brazil F. Araújo & R. Silva https://doi.org/10.5327/Z2176-94782620
- A new technique to retrieve aerosol vertical profiles using micropulse lidar and ground-based aerosol measurements B. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-5841-2025
- Impact of cloud seeding on simulated hailstorms and its dependence on CAPE, wind shear, and tracking thresholds N. Papaevangelou et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-9393-2026
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- Microphysical analysis on the impacts of reduced aerosol concentrations on tropical cyclone precipitation in South China Area H. Mak et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2025.108405
- Microphysical fingerprints in anvil cloud albedo D. Finney et al. https://doi.org/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. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-12335-2025
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- Assessing the influence of aerosols on urban precipitation: A sensitivity study of Dallas–Fort Worth G. Moraglia & P. Crippa https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2025.108436
- Impacts of wildfire smoke aerosols on radiation, clouds, precipitation, climate, and air quality R. Barjeste Vaezi et al. https://doi.org/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. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40726-025-00382-6
- Lightning declines over shipping lanes following regulation of fuel sulfur emissions C. Wright et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2937-2025
- The role of aerosols and meteorological conditions in shaping cloud droplet development in New Mexico summer deep-convective systems H. Wu et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-18409-2025
- Large effects of fine and coarse aerosols on tropical deep convective systems throughout their lifecycle J. Yin et al. https://doi.org/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 https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9323-2024
- Aerosol impacts on isolated deep convection: findings from TRACER D. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-9295-2025
27 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 https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5617-2025
- Influence of secondary ice formation on tropical deep convective clouds simulated by the Unified Model M. Sun et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-18549-2025
- Causal machine learning uncovers conditions for convective intensification driven by organic and sulfate aerosols D. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-28939-x
- Idealized simulations reveal the potential for widespread high supersaturation in marine tropical deep convection C. Fan et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2026.109091
- Multifaceted aerosol effects on precipitation P. Stier et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-024-01482-6
- Seasonal investigation of ultrafine-particle organic composition in an eastern Amazonian rainforest A. Thomas et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-959-2025
- Urban emissions and expansion intensify extreme precipitation and flood susceptibility in Texas G. Moraglia et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44304-026-00210-x
- Secondary ice formation in cumulus congestus clouds: insights from observations and aerosol-aware large-eddy simulations S. Calderón et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-14479-2025
- Weak influence of anthropogenic emissions on aerosol, cloud, and rain in the wet season of the Amazon rainforest X. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-9685-2025
- Large spatiotemporal variability in aerosol properties over central Argentina during the CACTI field campaign J. Fast et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13477-2024
- Impacts of Aerosol Concentration Changes on Cloud Microphysics and Convective Intensity of the Southwest Vortex: Insights from MODIS Observations and Numerical Simulations Y. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos17030259
- Impacts of biomass burning smoke in clouds and rainfall in southern Brazil F. Araújo & R. Silva https://doi.org/10.5327/Z2176-94782620
- A new technique to retrieve aerosol vertical profiles using micropulse lidar and ground-based aerosol measurements B. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-5841-2025
- Impact of cloud seeding on simulated hailstorms and its dependence on CAPE, wind shear, and tracking thresholds N. Papaevangelou et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-9393-2026
- Invited perspectives: Thunderstorm intensification from mountains to plains J. Fischer et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-2629-2025
- Microphysical analysis on the impacts of reduced aerosol concentrations on tropical cyclone precipitation in South China Area H. Mak et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2025.108405
- Microphysical fingerprints in anvil cloud albedo D. Finney et al. https://doi.org/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. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-12335-2025
- Aerosol-Induced Invigoration of Cumulus Clouds—A Review W. Cotton https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15080924
- Assessing the influence of aerosols on urban precipitation: A sensitivity study of Dallas–Fort Worth G. Moraglia & P. Crippa https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2025.108436
- Impacts of wildfire smoke aerosols on radiation, clouds, precipitation, climate, and air quality R. Barjeste Vaezi et al. https://doi.org/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. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40726-025-00382-6
- Lightning declines over shipping lanes following regulation of fuel sulfur emissions C. Wright et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2937-2025
- The role of aerosols and meteorological conditions in shaping cloud droplet development in New Mexico summer deep-convective systems H. Wu et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-18409-2025
- Large effects of fine and coarse aerosols on tropical deep convective systems throughout their lifecycle J. Yin et al. https://doi.org/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 https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9323-2024
- Aerosol impacts on isolated deep convection: findings from TRACER D. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-9295-2025
Saved (final revised paper)
Discussed (final revised paper)
Latest update: 19 Jul 2026
Editorial statement
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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