Articles | Volume 26, issue 8
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-5781-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-5781-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
28 Apr 2026
Research article |
| 28 Apr 2026
| 28 Apr 2026
Regulation of cloud particle spectra and vertical structure by sub-cloud aerosols: insights from aircraft observations and numerical simulations
Deyu Liu
Collaborative Innovation Centre on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters (CIC–FEMD), China Meteorological Administration Aerosol–Cloud and Precipitation Key Laboratory, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Yue Chen
Collaborative Innovation Centre on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters (CIC–FEMD), China Meteorological Administration Aerosol–Cloud and Precipitation Key Laboratory, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Sihan Liu
Hebei Provincial Weather Modification Office, Shijiazhuang 050000, China
Honglei Wang
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Collaborative Innovation Centre on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters (CIC–FEMD), China Meteorological Administration Aerosol–Cloud and Precipitation Key Laboratory, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Jingyi Chen
Collaborative Innovation Centre on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters (CIC–FEMD), China Meteorological Administration Aerosol–Cloud and Precipitation Key Laboratory, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Yang Yang
Hebei Provincial Weather Modification Office, Shijiazhuang 050000, China
Zihan Wang
Collaborative Innovation Centre on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters (CIC–FEMD), China Meteorological Administration Aerosol–Cloud and Precipitation Key Laboratory, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Kun Cui
Collaborative Innovation Centre on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters (CIC–FEMD), China Meteorological Administration Aerosol–Cloud and Precipitation Key Laboratory, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Tianliang Zhao
Collaborative Innovation Centre on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters (CIC–FEMD), China Meteorological Administration Aerosol–Cloud and Precipitation Key Laboratory, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
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Short summary
Cloud droplets are vital for rainfall and climate, and tiny airborne particles called aerosols can change their size and number. Using airplane observations over Hebei and simulations, we found that aerosols strongly affect droplet vertical distribution. Under high aerosols, lower droplets are larger and more numerous; under low aerosols, upper droplets are larger. These changes affect cloud development, precipitation, and atmospheric energy.
Cloud droplets are vital for rainfall and climate, and tiny airborne particles called aerosols...
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