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Summary: Evaluation of the model representation of the evolution
of convective systems using satellite observations of outgoing
longwave radiation
K. J. Pearson,1
R. J. Hogan,2
R. P. Allan,2
G. M. S. Lister,3
and C. E. Holloway4
Received 26 March 2010; revised 16 July 2010; accepted 26 July 2010; published 21 October 2010.
[1] We introduce a technique for assessing the diurnal development of convective
storm systems based on outgoing longwave radiation fields. Using the size distribution
of the storms measured from a series of images, we generate an array in the length
scaletime domain based on the standard score statistic. It demonstrates succinctly the
size evolution of storms as well as the dissipation kinematics. It also provides evidence
related to the temperature evolution of the cloud tops. We apply this approach to a
test case comparing observations made by the Geostationary Earth Radiation Budget
instrument to output from the Met Office Unified Model run at two resolutions. The 12 km
resolution model produces peak convective activity on all length scales significantly earlier
in the day than shown by the observations and no evidence for storms growing in size.
The 4 km resolution model shows realistic timing and growth evolution, although the
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