Unveiling Aerosol Impacts on Deep Convective Clouds: Scientific Concept, Modeling, Observational Analysis, and Future Direction

• Published in: Journal of geophysical research. Atmospheres Vol. 130; no. 15
• Main Authors: Fan, Jiwen, Zhang, Yuwei, Li, Zhanqing, Yan, Hongru, Prabhakaran, Thara, Rosenfeld, Daniel, Khain, Alexander
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 16.08.2025
• Subjects: aerosol‐cloud interactions; cloud invigoration; convective systems; deep convective clouds; weather
• ISSN: 2169-897X; 2169-8996
• DOI: 10.1029/2024JD041931

Aerosols are important environmental factors that can influence deep convective clouds (DCCs) by serving as cloud condensation nuclei. Due to complications in DCC dynamics and microphysics, and aerosol size distribution and composition, understanding aerosol‐DCC interactions has been a daunting challenge. Recently, the convective invigoration mechanisms through enhancing latent heating in condensation and ice‐related processes that have been proposed in literature are debated for their significance qualitatively and quantitatively. A salient issue arising from these debates is the imperative need to clarify essential knowledge and methodologies in investigating aerosol impacts on deep convection. Here we have presented our view of key aspects on investigating and understanding these invigoration mechanisms as well as the aerosol and meteorological conditions under which these mechanisms may be significant based on new findings. For example, the condensational invigoration is most significant under a clean condition with an introduction of a large number of ultrafine particles, and the freezing‐induced invigoration can be significant in a clean condition with a large number of relatively large‐size particles being added. We have made practical recommendations on approaches for investigating aerosol impacts on convection with both modeling and observations. We note that the feedback induced by the invigoration via the enhanced latent heating to circulation and meteorology can be an important part of aerosol impacts but is very complicated and varies with different convective storm types. This is an important future direction for studying aerosol‐DCC interactions. Plain Language Summary Deep convective clouds (DCCs) play a crucial role in Earth's energy and water cycles, significantly impacting human lives and natural systems by generating hazardous weather conditions. Aerosols are recognized as important environmental factors that can influence DCCs. However, understanding aerosol‐DCC interactions qualitatively and quantitatively remains a significant challenge, leading to substantial uncertainty. Early studies have proposed some mechanisms regarding the impacts of aerosols on convective storms, focused on the invigoration of convection by cloud condensation nuclei. This topic has recently garnered considerable attention, with ongoing scientific debates. A salient issue arising from these debates is the imperative need to clarify essential knowledge in investigating aerosol impacts on deep convection. Thus, we provide clarity on this subject by identifying key aspects for proper investigation with model simulations and observational analysis and reconciling recent seemingly contradictory findings with new analyses, aiming to promote future advancements in the field of aerosol‐cloud interactions. Key Points We clarify important conditions for condensational and freezing‐induced invigoration to be significant We provide recommendations for methodologies of analyzing and simulating aerosol impact on convection based on new findings Feedback to circulation and meteorology can be an important part of aerosol impacts on deep convective clouds and a direction of future studies