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Cloudy with a Chance of Microphysics: Modeling Droplet Collisions for the Climate Scale

Citation

de Jong, Emily Katherine (2025) Cloudy with a Chance of Microphysics: Modeling Droplet Collisions for the Climate Scale. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/yv2y-kg55. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:09132024-172910003

Abstract

Feedbacks between a warming atmosphere, emission of aerosols, and clouds and precipitation are some of the most difficult aspects for climate models to accurately capture. While climate models operate at resolutions of tens or hundreds of kilometers, many of the physics that determine how and where clouds form or precipitate function at the micron droplet scale. Due to this disparity in physical scales, most of these cloud physics must be modeled with only a few approximate quantities and physical equations. These simplifications lead to large uncertainties about climate forcings such as the sensitivity of global warming to human-emitted aerosols.

This work presents several promising new techniques for modeling and understanding hydrometeors in the climate system, with a particular focus on processes that involve collisions between droplets. First, I extend a high-complexity high-fidelity Lagrangian microphysics method to represent the process of breakup, in which colliding droplets fragment upon collision. Next, I introduce two new methods which attempt to reduce the assumptions inherent to modeling droplet coalescence, in which colliding droplets combine to form a larger drop. The first method uses a spectral finite element approach, while the second generalizes this technique using a method of moments to create a fully flexible microphysics scheme. Finally, I turn to remote observations of clouds, aerosols, and lightning over busy shipping regions to offer new techniques for quantifying aerosol-cloud interactions from creative data resources. This combination of high-fidelity modeling tools, observational data, and efficient numerical methods offers a path toward improving our understanding of the role of cloud microphysics in our climate system.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:Cloud microphysics, climate modeling
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Engineering and Applied Science
Major Option:Mechanical Engineering
Thesis Availability:Restricted to Caltech community only
Research Advisor(s):
  • Schneider, Tapio
Thesis Committee:
  • Blanquart, Guillaume (chair)
  • Colonius, Tim
  • Fu, Xiaojing
  • Morrison, Hugh
  • Schneider, Tapio
Defense Date:18 June 2024
Funders:
Funding AgencyGrant Number
Department of EnergyComputational Sciences Graduate Fellowship
Heising-Simons FoundationUNSPECIFIED
Schmidt Sciences, LLCUNSPECIFIED
Polish National Science Centre2020/39/D/ST10/01220
Swiss National Science FoundationP500PN 202876
Record Number:CaltechTHESIS:09132024-172910003
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:09132024-172910003
DOI:10.7907/yv2y-kg55
Related URLs:
URLURL TypeDescription
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-4193-2023DOIArticle adapted for chapter 2
https://doi.org/10.1029/2022MS003186DOIArticle adapted for chapter 3
https://doi.org/10.22541/essoar.171632547.79526166/v1DOIPreprint adapted for chapter 5
ORCID:
AuthorORCID
de Jong, Emily Katherine0000-0002-5310-4554
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:16724
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Emily de Jong
Deposited On:17 Sep 2024 22:14
Last Modified:17 Sep 2024 22:14

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