Simulation of Arctic Diamond Dust, Ice Fog, and Thin Stratus Using an Explicit Aerosol–Cloud–Radiation Model

In support to the development of the Northern Aerosol Regional Climate Model, a single column model with explicit aerosol and cloud microphysics is described. It is designed specifically to investigate cloud-aerosol interactions in the Arctic. A total of 38 size bins discretize the aerosol and cloud spectra from 0.01-to 500-m diameter. The model is based on three equations describing the time evolution of the aerosol, cloud droplet, and ice crystal spectra. The following physical processes are simulated: coagulation, sedimentation, nucleation, coalescence, aggregation, condensation, and deposition. Further, the model accounts for the water-ice phase interaction through the homogeneous and heterogeneous freezing, ice nuclei, and the Bergeron effect. The model has been validated against observations and other models.