Abstract
Aerosols are postulated to alter moist convection by increasing cloud
droplet number concentration (Nd). Cloud-resolving model simulations of
radiative-convective equilibrium show that higher Nd leads to stronger
convective mass flux, seemingly in line with a hypothesis that links the
convective invigoration to delayed rain formation allowing more cloud
liquid condensate to be frozen. Yet, the invigoration is also present in
an alternative model configuration with warm-rain microphysics only,
suggesting that ice microphysics is not central to the phenomenon. The
key dynamical mechanism lies in the different vertical distributions of
the increases in water vapor condensation and in cloud liquid
re-evaporation, causing a dipole pattern favoring convection. This is
further supported by a pair of mechanism-denial experiments in which an
imposed weakening of cloud liquid re-evaporation tends to mute
invigoration.