Bemerkung
The Wegener-Bergeron-Findeisen process – Its discovery and vital importance for weather and climate
Storelvmo, Trude; Tan, Ivy
Meteorologische Zeitschrift Vol. 24 No. 4 (2015), p. 455 - 461
37 Literaturangaben
veröffentlicht: Jul 21, 2015
Online veröffentlicht: Apr 13, 2015
Manuskript akzeptiert: Oct 20, 2014
Manuskript-Revision erhalten: Oct 16, 2014
Manuskript-Revision angefordert: Oct 3, 2014
Manuskript erhalten: Jul 11, 2014
Open Access (Arbeit kann kostenlos heruntergeladen werden)
Abstract
The Wegener-Bergeron-Findeisen process refers to the rapid growth of ice crystals at the expense of surrounding cloud droplets, which frequently occurs in atmospheric mixed-phase clouds. The process is a result of the difference in saturation vapor pressures with respect to liquid and ice, and may in some circumstances lead to abrupt and complete cloud glaciation at temperatures between −40 °C and 0 °C in the Earth's atmosphere. The process is named after three eminent scientists who were active in the first half of the 20th century, among them being German meteorologist Walter Findeisen (1909–1945). In his classical paper published in 1938, Findeisen described the contemporary understanding of the Wegener-Bergeron-Findeisen process and other key cloud microphysical processes. Here, we compare the understanding of the aforementioned processes at the time with that of the present, and find that they are remarkably similar. We also discuss how the Wegener-Bergeron-Findeisen process is implemented in state-of-the-art numerical models of the atmosphere, and highlight its importance for both weather and climate.
Schlagworte
Wegener-Bergeron-Findeisen process • mixed-phase clouds • weather and climate