A computationally efficient description of heterogeneous freezing: A simplified version of the Soccer ballmodel

作者：Niedermeier Dennis^*; Ervens Barbara; Clauss Tina; Voigtlaender Jens; Wex Heike; Hartmann Susan; Stratmann Frank

来源：Geophysical Research Letters, 2014, 41(2): 736-741.

DOI：10.1002/2013GL058684

• heterogeneous ice nucleation
• Parcel Model Study

In a recent study, the Soccer ball model (SBM) was introduced for modeling and/or parameterizing heterogeneous ice nucleation processes. The model applies classical nucleation theory. It allows for a consistent description of both apparently singular and stochastic ice nucleation behavior, by distributing contact angles over the nucleation sites of a particle population assuming a Gaussian probability density function. The original SBM utilizes the Monte Carlo technique, which hampers its usage in atmospheric models, as fairly time-consuming calculations must be performed to obtain statistically significant results. Thus, we have developed a simplified and computationally more efficient version of the SBM. We successfully used the new SBM to parameterize experimental nucleation data of, e.g., bacterial ice nucleation. Both SBMs give identical results; however, the new model is computationally less expensive as confirmed by cloud parcel simulations. Therefore, it is a suitable tool for describing heterogeneous ice nucleation processes in atmospheric models.
Key Points
Theoretical description of heterogeneous freezing - Soccer ball model Implementation of different freezing descriptions into a cloud parcel model A contact angle distribution is needed to well describe heterogeneous freezing

• 出版日期2014-1-28