Revolutionizing Weather Forecasts: Scientists Decode the Rain Formation Bottleneck

New findings have the potential to enhance computer models used for weather and climate prediction.
For decades, scientists have sought to unravel the intricate and enigmatic sequence of events that allow tiny droplets in clouds to grow large enough to fall to the ground. Gaining a deeper understanding of this process, known as the “rain formation bottleneck,” is crucial for enhancing computer model simulations of weather and climate, which in turn leads to more accurate forecasts.

Now a research team led by scientists at the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR) has found that the turbulent movements of air in clouds play a key role in the growth of droplets and the initiation of rain.