Ice Formation And Evolution In Clouds And Precipitation

"Ice crystals, with their myriad shapes, sizes and densities, play an important role in the formation, evolution and subsequent impact of ice and mixed-phase clouds on weather and climate. There are numerous pathways through which ice crystals nucleate, grow and dissipate. Although many of these are understood theoretically and have been simulated in the laboratory and cloud chambers, they are less well documented in natural clouds. The challenges of making measurements from moving platforms in an environment that is spatially inhomogenous and temporally unsteady, as well as sometimes at high altitudes and in clouds with icing potential makes these clouds difficult to observe. Nevertheless, the importance of ice clouds on climate and the hydrological cycle compels us to better understand ice processes through improved measurements over as broad of a temporal and geographical scale as possible. This monograph represents a collection of articles that do exactly that."-- Book jacket.