Refer to figure.
You can see two very different clouds from the flight deck. Cloud 1 appears dense and quite dark with a large vertical extent, whilst Cloud 2 appears lighter and more dispersed. Based on their appearance, what size of raindrops could you expect from each cloud?
Refer to figure.
Cloud 1 appears to be a convective cloud with significant vertical development (towering cumulus/cumulonimbus-type appearance). The powerful updrafts keep precipitation particles suspended in the cloud for a long period, allowing them to grow significantly via coalescence (colliding and merging with other droplets) and, in the colder parts of the cloud, through the Bergeron process. As a result, convective clouds contain a broad spectrum of raindrop sizes, ranging from small to large, although the precipitation is typically dominated by relatively large raindrops.
Cloud 2 appears to be a layered cloud (stratus/stratocumulus-type appearance) with relatively limited vertical development. These clouds are generally associated with weaker vertical motions, so the water droplets tend to remain smaller, producing light rain or drizzle.
Therefore, larger raindrops would be expected from Cloud 1, and smaller droplets from Cloud 2.
In general, the average size of drops in a cloud increases with the intensity of upward motion, and the most intense upward motion is normally associated with cumuliform cloud growth.
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