Factors influencing the parameterization of anvil clouds within GCMs. Revision 1

Conference · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:10146022

Leone, Jr, J M; Chin, H N.S.

The overall goal of this project is to improve the representation of clouds and their effects within global climate models (GCMs). We have concentrated on a small portion of the overall goal, the evolution of convectively generated cirrus clouds and their effects on the large-scale environment. Because of the large range of time and length scales involved we have been using a multi-scale attack. For the early time generation and development of the cirrus anvil we are using a cloud-scale model with horizontal resolution of 1--2 kilometers; for the larger scale transport by the larger scale flow we are using a mesoscale model with a horizontal resolution of 20--60 kilometers. The eventual goal is to use the information obtained from these simulations, together with available observations, to derive improved cloud parameterizations for use in Gams. This paper presents results from our cloud-scale studies and describes a new tool, a cirrus generator, that we have developed to aid in our mesoscale studies.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 10146022
• Report Number(s): UCRL-JC--113583-Rev.1; CONF-9303122--5-Rev.1; ON: DE94010794
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540110
ALBEDO
BASIC STUDIES
CLIMATE MODELS
CLOUDS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
RADIANT HEAT TRANSFER