The relationship between aerosol pollution and different precipitation types in autumn and winter in North China

The influence of aerosols on precipitation is largely uncertain, and a correct understanding of the influence of aerosols on different types of precipitation is important for improving the accuracy of weather forecasting and global climate change. The relationship between aerosol pollution and convective precipitation as well as stratiform precipitation in North China in autumn and winter 2014—2020 is analyzed using the GPM-DPR satellite data and MERRA-2 reanalysis data. The results indicate that convective precipitation in the aerosol-polluted condition shows an enhanced rain rate and a higher rain top height compared to that in the clean condition. Convective precipitation in the polluted condition has precipitation particles of smaller size but larger number and higher latent heating rate. There is no significant correlation between aerosol pollution and macroscopic characteristics of stratiform precipitation such as rain rate and rain top height. Stratiform precipitation is more susceptible to atmospheric water vapor condition and upward motion than convective precipitation. Therefore, the effects of aerosol pollution on stratiform precipitation in North China are difficult to be found by GPM-DPR data and MERRA-2 data when the meteorological condition dominates precipitation.