Abstract. Atmospheric aerosols can modulate the orographic precipitation impacting the evolution of clouds through radiation and microphysical pathways. This study
implements the cloud-resolving Weather Research and Forecasting model
coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) to study the response of the central
Himalayan elevation-dependent precipitation to the atmospheric aerosols. The first monsoonal month of 2013 is simulated to assess the effect of aerosols through radiation and cloud interactions. The results show that the response
of diurnal variation and precipitation intensities (light, moderate, and
heavy) to aerosol radiation and cloud interaction depended on the different
elevational ranges of the central Himalayan region. Below 2000 m a.s.l., the total effect of aerosols resulted in suppressed mean light precipitation by 19 % while enhancing the moderate and heavy precipitation by 3 % and 12 %, respectively. In contrast, above 2000 m a.s.l., a significant reduction of all three categories of precipitation intensity occurred with the 11 % reduction in mean precipitation. These contrasting altitudinal precipitation
responses to the increased anthropogenic aerosols can significantly impact
the hydroclimate of the central Himalayas, increasing the risk for extreme
events and influencing the regional supply of water resources.
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