Complex Interplay of Sulfate Aerosols and Atmospheric Dynamics on Precipitation Vertical Structure and Latent Heat in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region: A Satellite Perspective

Complex Interplay of Sulfate Aerosols and Atmospheric Dynamics on Precipitation Vertical Structure and Latent Heat in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region: A Satellite Perspective | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Complex Interplay of Sulfate Aerosols and Atmospheric Dynamics on Precipitation Vertical Structure and Latent Heat in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region: A Satellite Perspective Rui Li, Hongxia Zhu, Shuping Yang, Hongwei Zhao, Yu Wang This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4178946/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 21 Aug, 2024 Read the published version in npj Climate and Atmospheric Science → Version 1 posted 10 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract An eight-year satellite observation dataset reveals that sulfate aerosols significantly influence the vertical structure of precipitation and latent heat (LH) in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region during summer. In this period, prevalent sulfate aerosols combine with warm, humid southerly winds and elevated convective available potential energy (CAPE), influencing precipitation dynamics. Under polluted conditions with specific CAPE and precipitation top temperature (PTT) ranges, precipitation particles experience accelerated growth within the mixed-phase layer, delineated by the -5°C to 2°C isotherms, compared to pristine environments. This results in a marked increase in both the intensity and height at which the maximum LH is released. Subsequent analysis reveals that hygroscopic sulfate aerosols, acting as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), amplify the collision-coalescence process within the mixed layer amid high cloud water content, propelling rapid precipitation particle growth and elevating the PTT. This warming effect surpasses the cooling contribution from robust CAPE, culminating in a net elevation of PTT under polluted scenarios compared to pristine ones. Additionally, quantification of PTT sensitivity to both CAPE and aerosol optical depth (AOD) unveils a high consistency between satellite-detected PTT responses to CAPE and those predicted by cloud-resolving model simulations. The study deduces that the role of aerosols as CCN in either invigorating or diminishing the collision-coalescence process is contingent on the available cloud water. Earth and environmental sciences/Climate sciences/Atmospheric science/Atmospheric chemistry Earth and environmental sciences/Climate sciences/Atmospheric science/Atmospheric dynamics Full Text Additional Declarations (Not answered) Supplementary Files SupplementaryInformation.pdf Supplementary Information: Complex Interplay of Sulfate Aerosols and Atmospheric Dynamics on Precipitation Vertical Structure and Latent Heat in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region: A Satellite Perspecti Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 21 Aug, 2024 Read the published version in npj Climate and Atmospheric Science → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: revise 14 May, 2024 Reviewer # 3 agreed at journal 21 Apr, 2024 Review # 2 received at journal 20 Apr, 2024 Review # 1 received at journal 14 Apr, 2024 Reviewer # 2 agreed at journal 09 Apr, 2024 Reviewer # 1 agreed at journal 09 Apr, 2024 Reviewers invited by journal 09 Apr, 2024 Editor assigned by journal 28 Mar, 2024 Submission checks completed at journal 28 Mar, 2024 First submitted to journal 27 Mar, 2024 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-4178946","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":289204140,"identity":"2163c092-e056-48c3-bbb5-4ed9cf9d3cb5","order_by":0,"name":"Rui 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