CLOUDS WITH TURBULENCE - THE ROLE OF ENTRAINMENT

Cloud physics has grown up with concentrated efforts focused on compar tmentalized topics in the subject, where researchers have studied spec ific problems with little regard to other areas. The developing unders tanding of turbulent entrainment and the understanding that turbulence is best described in the atmosphere by circulating self-contained ent ities, which are often buoyant and carry fluid from one level to anoth er, has led to a unifying picture of clouds wherein all clouds and con vective processes can be seen as one phenomenon in which various condi tions decide the final form. The microphysical processes are described and the controlling effects of entity type entrainment mixing are sho wn to provide an explanation for many of the observations. The inadequ acy of most computer calculations in providing viable models is pointe d out. The need for self-consistent conceptual structures as a basis f or adequate models is stressed. Improved instruments for remote sensin g and aircraft measurements, along with the present conceptual develop ments and computational capabilities, suggest that adequate models of clouds may be soon developed.