Impact of elevated aerosol layer on the cloud macrophysical properties prior to monsoon onset

Atmospheric aerosols alter the radiation balance by absorption/scattering of solar radiation, and indirectly by modifying the cloud microphysical properties. Observations during the Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment (CAIPEEX) provide a unique opportunity to investigate the aerosol–cloud interaction in a dry to wet transition phase prior to the onset of southwest monsoon. It is observed that aerosol loading increased over the central Indian region in spite of the increase in surface rainfall. This aerosol loading was observed mainly in the 2–5 km level above surface. The origin and influence of elevated aerosol layer have been investigated with the help of WRF-Chem simulations by conducting sensitivity experiments for dust emissions, modified based on the satellite observations. To enhance the dust emissions, the erodible fraction over the Thar Desert region is enhanced to an average factor of 1.7 based on TOMS aerosol index (AI) and USGS land use category, which contributed to enhanced dust emissions by a factor of 1.25 over the study region. This enhancement of dust emission from Thar Desert can result in an increased radiative heating due to elevated aerosol layers, which leads to an increase in the ice mixing ratio and ice water content in the regions of dry to wet transition. It is shown that even natural dust emissions (without changes in anthropogenic emissions) may also influence the spatial and temporal distribution of cloud and precipitation and the hydrological cycle. ► Elevated aerosol layer (2–5 km) was caused by increased dust emission from Thar Desert. ► Interaction of aerosol via radiation parameterization is investigated with WRF-Chem. ► Enhanced dust emission leads to increased heating in the elevated aerosol layers. ► Enhanced dust emissions may influence cloud distribution and precipitation patterns.