Four-year ground-based observations of the aerosol effects on cloud base height in Wuhan, China

Özet

Aerosols can modify cloud properties by affecting the concentration and size of cloud droplets and the strengthof cloud convection. Understanding the effects of aerosol on cloud remains challenging because of the differenteffects of aerosol on various conditions and regions. In this study, we survey the effect of aerosol on cloud baseheight (CBH) through four-year ground-based observations in Wuhan, China. A robust positive correlation betweenaerosol loading and CBH can be found via annual and correlation analyses, which suggest the systematicinvigoration of clouds through aerosol loading. The statistical analysis of collocated measurements of PM10concentrations, meteorological factors, and CBHs suggest that temperature, relative humidity and aerosol particlescollectively influence CBH variations. The present finding also demonstrate that the influence of aerosolparticles on promoting CBH is prominent under the conditions of relatively high humidity and low temperature.This study provides a new perspective for understanding the response of aerosol-cloud interactions in an urbanarea, which will play important roles in regional climate change and human life.