Universality in Cloud Condensate Vertical Profiles and Implications for Cloud Feedbacks

The vertical distribution of cloud condensates helps set precipitation efficiency, cloud fraction and cloud optical depth. Here, we examine profiles of liquid condensate in shallow convection and ice condensate in deep convection collected from in-situ and satellite observations. These observed profiles exhibit a striking similarity, which suggests they might be controlled by the same basic physical processes. We develop a simple analytical theory for these profiles based on condensation, entrainment, and conversion to precipitation. When given a few input parameters, the theory is able to quantitatively reproduce observed and simulated profiles of liquid and ice condensate. We outline how the theory could be used to interpret the anvil cloud optical depth feedback, as well as the intermodel spread in condensate seen in cloud-resolving simulations.