A model of transport equations for the second order moment of liquid water quantities is developed to analyze the variability of the liquid water content of a warm microphysical active cloud. The cloud water variance, rainwater variance, and cloud water-rainwater covariance equations are constructed using the LES approach to turbulence. They are controlled by the gradient of average liquid water quantities and by the contribution of microphysical processes. Simulations carried out on the vertical extent of the cloud reveal that liquid water variability is impacted by the formation, growth and fall of precipitation. Precipitation forms and grows preferably in the upper part of the cloud reducing the cloud water content. Thus, the variance of rainwater reaches its maximum in the high altitudes as opposed to the variance of cloud water confined in the bottom of the cloud. Furthermore, the precipitation fall combined with the high presence of cloud water in the lower half of the cloud cells leads to a concentration of the cloud-water-rainwater covariance at low altitudes.

Earth’s hydrological cycle, transport equation model, LES approach to turbulence.

Received: October 11, 2021; Accepted: December 3, 2021; Published: December 23, 2021

How to cite this article: Bakary Coulibaly, Emile Danho and N’dri Roger Djue, Modeling and analysis of variances and covariance of liquid water content in a warm and active cloud, Advances and Applications in Fluid Mechanics 27(2) (2021), 67-90. DOI: 10.17654/09734686001

This Open Access Article is Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

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