EAS News Article
The Cloud Microphysics Group Returns from Antigua and Barbuda
The Cloud Microphysics Group has just returned from participating in the Rain in Cumulus over the Ocean (RICO) field campaign, held in Antigua and Barbuda from November 2004- January 2005. The group's interest in RICO was to collect radar and aircraft data on trade wind cumulus evolution and precipitation formation. These clouds are prevalent over the world's oceans, and often precipitate although they are quite shallow (< 1 km). Their evolution is important not only for improving our understanding of the warm rain process, but also for understanding shallow tropical convection and improving its representation in weather and climate models. The Cloud Microphysics Group was funded by the National Science Foundation to participate in the data collection, and to perform data analysis and modeling, with an emphasis on precipitation acceleration mechanisms.
