Variability in concentrations of cloud condensation nuclei in the marine cloud—topped boundary layer

Abstract

In previous work, we suggested there may be two equilibrium states for the well-mixed marine cloud—topped boundary layer, each characterized by a limited range of values of the condensation nucleus concentration, N. We now extend that study, introducing a new parameterization for drizzle as a function of N and r, the mean cloud droplet radius. This parameterization leads to functional relationships between the particle source rate and the cloud albedo at equilibrium.