84 research outputs found
Low-level mesocyclonic concentration by nonaxisymmetric transport, Part II
J. Atmos. Sci., 63, 1113-113
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Parameterization of convective clouds, mesoscale convective systems, and convective-generated cirrus
A level 2.5w deep convection updraft/downdraft parameterization scheme has been refined and tested against 3D simulations of sea-breeze generated convection over S. Florida. Cases for explicit simulation of MCSs in mid-latitudes and tropics have been encouraging. After a few refinements in those cases, fine resolution explicit simualtions of deep convection and mesoscale, stratiform clouds will be begun
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Explicit simulation and parameterization of mesoscale convective systems. Final report, November 1, 1993--April 30, 1997
This research has focused on the development of a parameterization scheme for mesoscale convective systems (MCSs), to be used in numerical weather prediction models with grid spacing too coarse to explicitly simulate such systems. This is an extension to cumulus parameterization schemes, which have long been used to account for the unresolved effects of convection in numerical models. Although MCSs generally require an extended sequence of numerous deep convective cells in order to develop into their characteristic sizes and to persist for their typical durations, their effects on the large scale environment are significantly different than that due to the collective effects of numerous ordinary deep convective cells. These differences are largely due to a large stratiform cloud that develops fairly early in the MCS life-cycle, where mesoscale circulations and dynamics interact with the environment in ways that call for a distinct MCS parameterization. Comparing an MCS and a collection of deep convection that ingests the same amount of boundary layer air and moisture over an extended several hour period, the MCS will generally generates more stratiform rainfall, produce longer-lasting and optically thicker cirrus, and result in different vertical distributions of large-scale tendencies due to latent heating and moistening, momentum transfers, and radiational heating
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A cumulus parameterization scheme designed for nested grid meso-. beta. scale models
A generalized cumulus parameterization based upon higher order turbulence closure has been incorporated into one dimensional simulations. The scheme consists of a level 2.5w turbulence closure scheme mated with a convective adjustment scheme. The convective adjustment scheme includes a gradient term which can be interpreted as either a subsidence term when the scheme is used in large scale models or a mesoscale compensation term when the scheme is used in mesoscale models. The scheme also includes a convective adjustment term which is interpreted as a detrainment term in large scale models. In mesoscale models, the mesoscale compensation term and the advection by the mean vertical motions combine to yield no net advection which is desirable since the convective moistening and heating is now wholly accomplished by the convective adjustment term; double counting is then explicitly eliminated. One dimensional simulations indicate satisfactory performance of the cumulus parameterization scheme for a non-entraining updraft
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Development and testing of an aerosol/stratus cloud parameterization scheme for middle and high latitudes. Year 3 technical progress report, November 1, 1996--August 31, 1997
At the present time, general circulation models (GCMs) poorly represent clouds, to the extent that they cannot be relied upon to simulate the climatic effects of increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases, or of anthropogenic perturbations to concentrations of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) or ice nuclei (IN). The net radiative forcing of clouds varies strongly with latitude. Poleward of 30 degrees in both hemispheres, low-level clouds create a net cooling effect corresponding to radiative divergences of {minus}50 to {minus}100 W/m{sup 2}. It is likely that a combination of fogs, boundary-layer stratocumulus, and stratus clouds are the main contributors to this forcing. Models of the response of the microphysical and radiative properties of clouds to changes in aerosol abundance, for a variety of large-scale meteorological forcings, are important additions to GCMs used for the study of the role of Arctic systems in global climate. The overall objective of this research is the development of an aerosol/cloud microphysics parameterization of mixed-phase stratus and boundary-layer clouds which responds to variations in CCN and IN. The parameterization is to be designed for ultimate use in GCM simulations as a tool in understanding the role of CCN, IN, and Arctic clouds in radiation budgets. Several versions of the CSU RAMS (Regional Atmospheric Modeling System) will be used during the course of this work. The parameterizations developed in this research are intended for application in a single-column cloud model, designed as an adaptive grid model which can interface into a GCM vertical grid through distinct layers of the troposphere where the presence of layer clouds is expected
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National Institute for Global Environmental Change. Final Report
Over the past decade or so the evolution and equilibria of persistent decks of stratocumulus climatologically clinging to the edge of summertime subtropical highs has been an issue of increased scientific inquiry. The particular interest in the microphysical structure of these clouds stems from a variety of hypotheses which suggest that anthropogenic influences or biogenic feedbacks may alter the structure of these clouds in a manner which may be climatically significant. Most hypotheses regarding boundary layer influences on climate have been formulated by an examination of the solution space of simple models. The earliest hypothesis of this sort (and the one on the most solid footing) is due to Twomey (1974), who posited that enhanced concentrations of CCN could lead to enhanced droplet reflectivity and enhanced albedos in clouds of modest optical depths. In low lying clouds where the albedo effect dominates, the climate sensitivity to a robust perturbation in cloud albedo may be significant. One of the primary objectives of this current research has been to explore the hypothesis of Twomey. The basic approach was to couple radiative calculations with detailed representations of the droplet spectra. The detailed representation of the droplet spectra was generated by the Large Eddy Simulation-Explicit Microphysics (LES-EM) model coupled to a simple mixed emissivity radiation scheme in order to drive the dynamics. Several simulations were carried out and the resultant microphysical fields were taken from the stationary regime of the turbulent simulation and used to drive a two dimensional radiative model. By comparing the radiative properties of the simulated clouds formed in environments with different CCN concentrations we were able to more accurately quantify the albedo susceptibility of stratocumulus taken to be typical of the FIRE experimental area
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