The 1st Research Laboratory

Cloud and Precipitation Physics

A variety of physical processes are involved in cloud formation and precipitation development. Clouds form in the atmosphere as a result of the condensation or deposition of water vapor on aerosol particles, i.e., condensation nuclei for water clouds or ice nuclei for ice-crystal clouds. Precipitation begins in clouds as water droplets or ice crystals. By collision and coalescence, the particles grow to form rain, snow, graupel, or hailstones. Entering warmer air, much of the solid precipitation melts to form rain before reaching the ground.
These cloud and precipitation processes are complex, and many problems still remain to be solved despite of their importance in precipitation forecasting, climate change and weather modification researches. Our laboratory has conducted field observations, laboratory experiments, and numerical modeling to clarify these cloud and precipitation processes.

Snow cloud observations with an instrumented aircraft

　　　　
Cloud observation with hydrometeor video sonde　　　　　　　　Ice crystals in cirrus

[Physical Meteorology Research Department]