Observed impact of meso-scale vertical motion on cloudiness

Abstract We use estimates of meso-scale vertical velocity and co-located cloud measurements from the second Next-Generation Aircraft Remote Sensing for Validation campaign (NARVAL2) in tropical North Atlantic to show observed impact motion on clouds. Our results not only confirm previously untested hypotheses about role dynamics being non-negligible determining cloudiness, but go further that at meso-scale, has a more dominant control cloudiness variability than thermodynamics. A simple mass-flux estimate reveals sub-cloud layer top explains much variations peak shallow cumulus fraction. In contrast, we find thermodynamic cloud-controlling factors, such as humidity stability, are unable explain meso-scale. Thus, capturing may require consideration also dynamic ones velocity.