Deep Convection‐Driven Downward Transport of Trace Gases and Aerosols From the Free Troposphere to the Boundary Layer

Abstract Deep convective clouds regulate Earth's energy and moisture budgets, yet their impact on the atmospheric boundary layer (BL) composition remains underexplored. Using long‐term observations from three mid‐latitude sites, we show that deep convection (DC) consistently enhances nighttime surface ozone and is often accompanied by modest increases in ultrafine particle concentrations. Within the BL, the condensational growth of these transported ultrafine particles may contribute up to 60% of total cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). Mass flux calculations suggest that short‐lived convective cores (∼30 min) account for ∼2% of total vertical air mass transport relative to steady entrainment, increasing to ∼13% when the trailing stratiform regions are included. These results show that DC provides an episodic but efficient pathway linking the free troposphere and BL, influencing oxidant budgets, CCN variability, and climate forcing. Accurately representing this process in climate models may help reduce uncertainties in climate projections, under both preindustrial and present‐day conditions.

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Publication Details

Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
Published
2026-02-13
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1029/2025gl119490
Primary Topic
Atmospheric aerosols and clouds
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Deep Convection‐Driven Downward Transport of Trace Gases and Aerosols From the Free Troposphere to the Boundary Layer

Yang Wang, Manisha Mehra, Jiaoshi Zhang, Chanakya Bagya Ramesh et al.
Geophysical Research Letters
Atmospheric aerosols and clouds
article

Deep Convection‐Driven Downward Transport of Trace Gases and Aerosols From the Free Troposphere to the Boundary Layer

Yang Wang, Manisha Mehra, Jiaoshi Zhang, Chanakya Bagya Ramesh, Ruoyu Zhang, Jian Wang, Scott E. Giangrande
article en

Abstract

Abstract Deep convective clouds regulate Earth's energy and moisture budgets, yet their impact on the atmospheric boundary layer (BL) composition remains underexplored. Using long‐term observations from three mid‐latitude sites, we show that deep convection (DC) consistently enhances nighttime surface ozone and is often accompanied by modest increases in ultrafine particle concentrations. Within the BL, the condensational growth of these transported ultrafine particles may contribute up to 60% of total cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). Mass flux calculations suggest that short‐lived convective cores (∼30 min) account for ∼2% of total vertical air mass transport relative to steady entrainment, increasing to ∼13% when the trailing stratiform regions are included. These results show that DC provides an episodic but efficient pathway linking the free troposphere and BL, influencing oxidant budgets, CCN variability, and climate forcing. Accurately representing this process in climate models may help reduce uncertainties in climate projections, under both preindustrial and present‐day conditions.

Geophysical Research LettersVol. 53(4)
University of Miami (US), Brookhaven National Laboratory (US), Washington University in St. Louis (US)
U.S. Department of Energy
Climate action
Openalex Percentile: Top 68%
Atmospheric aerosols and clouds
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Deep Convection‐Driven Downward Transport of Trace Gases and Aerosols From the Free Troposphere to the Boundary Layer — Yang Wang, Manisha Mehra, et al. · Geophysical Research Letters (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS