References

ACPD

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions

ACPD

1680-7375

Copernicus GmbH

Göttingen, Germany

10.5194/acpd-7-13733-2007

The validity of the kinetic collection equation revisited

Alfonso

¹ Raga

G. B.

² Baumgardner

Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México, México City, 09790 México

Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, UNAM, México City, 04510 México

20 09 2007

7 5 13733 13771

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The kinetic collection equation (KCE) describes the evolution of the average droplet spectrum due to successive events of collision and coalescence. Fluctuations and non-zero correlations present in the stochastic coalescence process would imply that the size distributions may not be correctly modelled by the KCE. <br><br> In this study we expand the known analytical studies of the coalescence equation with some numerical tools such as Monte Carlo simulations of the coalescence process. The validity time of the KCE was estimated by calculating the maximum of the ratio of the standard deviation for the largest droplet mass over all the realizations to the averaged value. A good correspondence between the analytical and the numerical approaches was found for all the kernels studied. The expected values from analytical solutions of the KCE, were compared with true expected values of the stochastic collection equation (SCE) estimated with Gillespie's Monte Carlo algorithm and analytical solutions of the SCE, after and before the breakdown time. <br><br> The possible implications for cloud physics are discussed, in particular the possibility of application of these results to kernels modified by turbulence and electrical processes.

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