DropLab
An open-source Lagrangian cloud laboratory—from warm-rain parcels to mixed-phase convection
DropLab is an open-source Lagrangian super-droplet laboratory for cloud microphysics. Aerosol particles, cloud droplets, and ice crystals are represented by simulated super-droplets, making particle histories visible while keeping curated experiments fast enough to run on a laptop.
What you can explore
- aerosol activation, condensation, collision–coalescence, and warm-rain initiation
- turbulent entrainment and droplet-size-distribution evolution
- Arctic mixed-phase clouds, depositional ice growth, riming, melting, and crystal habits
- idealized 2-D shallow clouds and anelastic deep convection
- marine cloud brightening and glaciogenic-seeding demonstrations
- guided predict–observe–explain lessons for university teaching
Four modes
- Parcel — follow a rising air parcel from aerosol activation toward precipitation
- 2-D Cloud — watch warm, mixed-phase, or deep-convective clouds evolve
- Climate — compare baseline and idealized intervention experiments
- Lecture — use curated lessons built around prediction and explanation
Validation and scope
DropLab’s microphysical kernels are tested against analytic solutions and reference Fortran implementations. Its integrated 2-D cloud experiments remain idealized: they are designed for process exploration and teaching, not forecasting. The repository documents those limits alongside the validation suite.