Factors influencing the parameterization of anvil clouds within GCMs

Conference · Mon Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:10168832

Leone, Jr, J M; Chin, Hung-Neng

The overall goal of this project is to improve the representation of clouds and their effects within global climate models (GCMs). The authors 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 they have been using a multi-scale attack. For the early time generation and development of the cirrus anvil they are using a cloud-scale model with horizontal resolution of 1--2 kilometers; while for the larger scale transport by the larger scale flow they 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 GCMs. This paper presents results from their cloud-scale studies and describes a new tool, a cirrus generator, that they have developed to aid in their 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: 10168832
• Report Number(s): UCRL-JC--113583; CONF-9303122--5; ON: DE93017182
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540140
ACCURACY
CLIMATE MODELS
CLOUDS
DYNAMICS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
GENERAL CIRCULATION MODELS
SIMULATION
STORMS
THERMAL EFFLUENTS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT