Coalescence (physics)
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Coalescence is the process by which two or more droplets, bubbles or particles merge during contact to form a single daughter droplet, bubble or particle. It can take place in many processes, ranging from meteorology to astrophysics. For example, it is seen in the formation of raindrops as well as planetary and star formation.
In meteorology, its role is crucial in the formation of rain. As droplets are carried by the updrafts and downdrafts in a cloud, they collide and coalesce to form larger droplets. When the droplets become too large to be sustained on the air currents, they begin to fall as rain. Adding to this process, the cloud may be seeded with ice from higher altitudes, either via the cloud tops reaching −40 °C (−40 °F), or via the cloud being seeded by ice from cirrus clouds.
In cloud physics the main mechanism of collision is the different terminal velocity between the droplets. The terminal velocity is a function of the droplet size. The other factors that determine the collision rate are the droplet concentration and turbulence.[1]
See also[]
- Accretion (astrophysics)
- Accretion (meteorology)
- Bergeron process
- Coalescer
References[]
- ^ Benmoshe, N.; Pinsky, M.; Pokrovsky, A.; Khain, A. (2012). "Turbulent effects on the microphysics and initiation of warm rain in deep convective clouds: 2-D simulations by a spectral mixed-phase microphysics cloud model". Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres. 117 (D6): n/a. Bibcode:2012JGRD..117.6220B. doi:10.1029/2011JD016603.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Coalescence (physics). |
- American Meteorological Society, Glossary of Meteorology: Coalescence
- Schlumberger Oilfield Glossary Archived 2012-05-31 at the Wayback Machine
- The Bergeron Process
- The Coalescence of Bubbles - A Numerical Study - Archived 2011-04-01 at the Wayback Machine
- Cloud and fog physics
- Physics stubs
- Atmospheric science stubs