Aerosol–precipitation elevation dependence over the central Himalayas using cloud-resolving WRF-Chem numerical modeling

[摘要] Atmospheric aerosols can modulate the orographic precipitation impacting the evolution of clouds through radiation and microphysical pathways. This studyimplements the cloud-resolving Weather Research and Forecasting modelcoupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) to study the response of the centralHimalayan elevation-dependent precipitation to the atmospheric aerosols. The first monsoonal month of 2013 is simulated to assess the effect of aerosols through radiation and cloud interactions. The results show that the responseof diurnal variation and precipitation intensities (light, moderate, andheavy) to aerosol radiation and cloud interaction depended on the differentelevational ranges of the central Himalayan region. Below 2000 m a.s.l., the total effect of aerosols resulted in suppressed mean light precipitation by 19 % while enhancing the moderate and heavy precipitation by 3 % and 12 %, respectively. In contrast, above 2000 m a.s.l., a significant reduction of all three categories of precipitation intensity occurred with the 11 % reduction in mean precipitation. These contrasting altitudinal precipitationresponses to the increased anthropogenic aerosols can significantly impactthe hydroclimate of the central Himalayas, increasing the risk for extremeevents and influencing the regional supply of water resources.

[学科分类] 医学（综合）