Cloud-Top Entrainment in Stratocumulus Clouds

摘要: Cloud entrainment, the mixing between cloudy and clear air at boundary of clouds, constitutes one paradigm for relevance small scales in Earth system: By regulating cloud lifetimes, meter- submeter-scale processes boundaries can influence planetary-scale properties. Understanding entrainment is difficult given complexity diversity associated phenomena, which include turbulence within a stratified medium, convective instabilities driven by radiative evaporative cooling, shear instabilities, microphysics. Obtaining accurate data required also challenging, both simulations measurements. During past few decades, however, high-resolution measurements have greatly advanced our understanding main mechanisms controlling entrainment. This article reviews some these advances, focusing on stratocumulus indicates remaining challenges.