Understanding Mesoscale Aggregation of Shallow Cumulus Convection Using Large-Eddy Simulation

Bretherton, C. S.; Blossey, P. N.

doi:10.1002/2017ms000981

Title: Understanding Mesoscale Aggregation of Shallow Cumulus Convection Using Large-Eddy Simulation

Journal Article · Fri Oct 20 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/2017ms000981· OSTI ID:1511477

^[1];

^[1]

Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA (United States)

Marine shallow cumulus convection, often mixed with thin stratocumulus, is commonly aggregated into mesoscale patches. The mechanism and conditions supporting this aggregation are elucidated using 36 h large-eddy simulations (LES) on a 128 3 128 km doubly periodic domain, using climatological summertime forcings for a location southeast of Hawaii. Within 12 h, mesoscale patches of higher humidity, more vigorous cumulus convection, and thin detrained cloud at the trade inversion base develop spontaneously. Mesoscale 16 3 16 km subdomains are composited into quartiles of column total water path and their heat and moisture budgets analyzed. The weak temperature gradient approximation is used to explain how apparent heating perturbations drive simulated mesoscale circulations, which in turn induce relative moistening of the moistest subdomains, a form of gross moist instability. Self-aggregation is affected by precipitation and mesoscale feedbacks of radiative and surface fluxes but still occurs without them. In that minimal-physics setting, the humidity budget analysis suggests self-aggregation is more likely if horizontal-mean humidity is a concave function of the horizontal-mean virtual potential temperature, a condition favored by radiative cooling and cold advection within the boundary layer.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Cite

Export

Save

Research Organization:: Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0011602

OSTI ID:: 1511477

Journal Information:: Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, Vol. 9, Issue 8; ISSN 1942-2466

Publisher:: American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Citation Metrics:

Cited by: 44 works

Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (42)

A Review of Mesoscale Cellular Convection Agee, E. M.; Chen, T. S.; Dowell, K. E. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, Vol. 54, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0477(1973)054<1004:AROMCC>2.0.CO;2	journal	October 1973
What favors convective aggregation and why?: WHAT FAVORS CONVECTIVE AGGREGATION Muller, Caroline; Bony, Sandrine Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 42, Issue 13 https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL064260	journal	July 2015
Large-eddy simulation of the transient and near-equilibrium behavior of precipitating shallow convection: LES OF PRECIPITATING SHALLOW CONVECTION Seifert, Axel; Heus, Thijs; Pincus, Robert Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, Vol. 7, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1002/2015MS000489	journal	December 2015
Structure of the Mixed Layer and Inversion Layer Associated with Patterns of Mesoscale Cellular Convection During AMTEX 75 Agee, Ernest M.; Lomax, Francis E. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, Vol. 35, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1978)035<2281:SOTMLA>2.0.CO;2	journal	December 1978
A New Double-Moment Microphysics Parameterization for Application in Cloud and Climate Models. Part I: Description Morrison, H.; Curry, J. A.; Khvorostyanov, V. I. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, Vol. 62, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS3446.1	journal	June 2005
Detailed Investigation of the Self-Aggregation of Convection in Cloud-Resolving Simulations Muller, Caroline J.; Held, Isaac M. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, Vol. 69, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-11-0257.1	journal	August 2012
Moisture Transport, Lower-Tropospheric Stability, and Decoupling of Cloud-Topped Boundary Layers Bretherton, Christopher S.; Wyant, Matthew C. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, Vol. 54, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1997)054<0148:MTLTSA>2.0.CO;2	journal	January 1997
Modeling Tropical Precipitation in a Single Column Sobel, Adam H.; Bretherton, Christopher S. Journal of Climate, Vol. 13, Issue 24 https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0442(2000)013<4378:MTPIAS>2.0.CO;2	journal	December 2000
A Large Eddy Simulation Intercomparison Study of Shallow Cumulus Convection Siebesma, A. Pier; Bretherton, Christopher S.; Brown, Andrew Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, Vol. 60, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(2003)60<1201:ALESIS>2.0.CO;2	journal	May 2003
Radiative transfer for inhomogeneous atmospheres: RRTM, a validated correlated-k model for the longwave Mlawer, Eli J.; Taubman, Steven J.; Brown, Patrick D. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, Vol. 102, Issue D14 https://doi.org/10.1029/97JD00237	journal	July 1997
Aerosol Effects on Clouds, Precipitation, and the Organization of Shallow Cumulus Convection Xue, Huiwen; Feingold, Graham; Stevens, Bjorn Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, Vol. 65, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1175/2007JAS2428.1	journal	February 2008
Three-dimensional numerical study of cell broadening during cold-air outbreaks Müller, Gerd; Chlond, Andreas Boundary-Layer Meteorology, Vol. 81, Issue 3-4 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02430333	journal	December 1996
Cell Broadening Revisited: Results from High-Resolution Large-Eddy Simulations of Cold Air Outbreaks Schröter, M.; Raasch, S.; Jansen, H. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, Vol. 62, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS3451.1	journal	June 2005
The distribution and variability of low-level cloud in the North Atlantic trades: Distribution and Variability of Low-level Cloud in the Trades Nuijens, L.; Serikov, I.; Hirsch, L. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, Vol. 140, Issue 684 https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.2307	journal	February 2014
Objective Diagnostics and the Madden–Julian Oscillation. Part II: Application to Moist Static Energy and Moisture Budgets Wolding, Brandon O.; Maloney, Eric D. Journal of Climate, Vol. 28, Issue 19 https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-14-00689.1	journal	October 2015
Spatial Variability of Liquid Water Path in Marine Low Cloud: The Importance of Mesoscale Cellular Convection Wood, Robert; Hartmann, Dennis L. Journal of Climate, Vol. 19, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI3702.1	journal	May 2006
A Composite Analysis of the Boundary Layer Accompanying a Tropical Squall Line Johnson, Richard H.; Nicholls, Melville E. Monthly Weather Review, Vol. 111, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0493(1983)111<0308:ACAOTB>2.0.CO;2	journal	February 1983
Mesoscale Fluctuations in Scalars Generated by Boundary Layer Convection Jonker, Harm J. J.; Duynkerke, Peter G.; Cuijpers, Joannes W. M. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, Vol. 56, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1999)056<0801:MFISGB>2.0.CO;2	journal	March 1999
Cloudiness and Marine Boundary Layer Dynamics in the ASTEX Lagrangian Experiments. Part II: Cloudiness, Drizzle, Surface Fluxes, and Entrainment Bretherton, Christopher S.; Austin, Philip; Siems, Steven T. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, Vol. 52, Issue 16 https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1995)052<2724:CAMBLD>2.0.CO;2	journal	August 1995
A New Cloud Physics Parameterization in a Large-Eddy Simulation Model of Marine Stratocumulus Khairoutdinov, Marat; Kogan, Yefim Monthly Weather Review, Vol. 128, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0493(2000)128<0229:ANCPPI>2.0.CO;2	journal	January 2000
Modeling Mesoscale Cellular Structures and Drizzle in Marine Stratocumulus. Part II: The Microphysics and Dynamics of the Boundary Region between Open and Closed Cells Wang, Hailong; Feingold, Graham Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, Vol. 66, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1175/2009JAS3120.1	journal	November 2009
Radiative-convective instability: RADIATIVE-CONVECTIVE INSTABILITY Emanuel, Kerry; Wing, Allison A.; Vincent, Emmanuel M. Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, Vol. 6, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1002/2013MS000270	journal	February 2014
Radiative-Convective Equilibrium with Explicit Two-Dimensional Moist Convection Held, Isaac M.; Hemler, Richard S.; Ramaswamy, V. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, Vol. 50, Issue 23 https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1993)050<3909:RCEWET>2.0.CO;2	journal	December 1993
Observational Evidence for Relationships between the Degree of Aggregation of Deep Convection, Water Vapor, Surface Fluxes, and Radiation Tobin, Isabelle; Bony, Sandrine; Roca, Remy Journal of Climate, Vol. 25, Issue 20 https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-11-00258.1	journal	October 2012
The Mesoscale Stability of Entrainment into Cloud-Topped Mixed Layers Fielder, Brian H. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, Vol. 41, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1984)041<0092:TMSOEI>2.0.CO;2	journal	January 1984
Eastward-Propagating Intraseasonal Oscillation Represented by Chikira–Sugiyama Cumulus Parameterization. Part II: Understanding Moisture Variation under Weak Temperature Gradient Balance Chikira, Minoru Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, Vol. 71, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-13-038.1	journal	February 2014
Mesoscale organization, entrainment, and the properties of a closed-cell stratocumulus cloud: STRATOCUMULUS MESOSCALE ORGANIZATION Kazil, J.; Yamaguchi, T.; Feingold, G. Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, Vol. 9, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1002/2017MS001072	journal	September 2017
Convective self-aggregation, cold pools, and domain size: AGGREGATION, COLD POOLS, AND DOMAIN SIZE Jeevanjee, Nadir; Romps, David M. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 40, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1002/grl.50204	journal	March 2013
Parametric representation of the cloud droplet spectra for LES warm bulk microphysical schemes Geoffroy, O.; Brenguier, J. -L.; Burnet, F. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, Vol. 10, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-10-4835-2010	journal	January 2010
Estimating the Gross Moist Stability of the Tropical Atmosphere* Yu, Jia-Yuh; Chou, Chia; Neelin, J. David Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, Vol. 55, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1998)055<1354:ETGMSO>2.0.CO;2	journal	April 1998
Marine low cloud sensitivity to an idealized climate change: The CGILS LES intercomparison: CGILS LES Intercomparison Blossey, Peter N.; Bretherton, Christopher S.; Zhang, Minghua Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, Vol. 5, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1002/jame.20025	journal	May 2013
Three Examples of Fair-Weather Mesoscale Boundary-Layer Convection in the Tropics LeMone, Margaret A.; Meitin, Rebecca J. Monthly Weather Review, Vol. 112, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0493(1984)112<1985:TEOFWM>2.0.CO;2	journal	October 1984
Large-Eddy Simulation: How Large is Large Enough? de Roode, Stephan R.; Duynkerke, Peter G.; Jonker, Harm J. J. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, Vol. 61, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(2004)061<0403:LSHLIL>2.0.CO;2	journal	February 2004
Aircraft Investigation of Mesoscale Cellular Convection During AMTEX 75 Rothermel, Jeffry; Agee, Ernest M. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, Vol. 37, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1980)037<1027:AIOMCC>2.0.CO;2	journal	May 1980
An Energy-Balance Analysis of Deep Convective Self-Aggregation above Uniform SST Bretherton, Christopher S.; Blossey, Peter N.; Khairoutdinov, Marat Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, Vol. 62, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS3614.1	journal	December 2005
Organization of Tropical Convection in Low Vertical Wind Shears: The Role of Water Vapor Tompkins, Adrian M. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, Vol. 58, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(2001)058<0529:OOTCIL>2.0.CO;2	journal	March 2001
Gravity Waves, Compensating Subsidence and Detrainment around Cumulus Clouds Bretherton, Christopher S.; Smolarkiewicz, Piotr K. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, Vol. 46, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1989)046<0740:GWCSAD>2.0.CO;2	journal	March 1989
Marine boundary layer cloud regimes and POC formation in a CRM coupled to a bulk aerosol scheme Berner, A. H.; Bretherton, C. S.; Wood, R. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, Vol. 13, Issue 24 https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-12549-2013	journal	January 2013
The role of precipitation and spatial organization in the response of trade-wind clouds to warming: WARMING RESPONSE OF SHALLOW CONVECTION Vogel, Raphaela; Nuijens, Louise; Stevens, Bjorn Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, Vol. 8, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1002/2015MS000568	journal	June 2016
The Mechanics of Gross Moist Stability: GROSS MOIST STABILITY Raymond, David J.; Sessions, Sharon L.; Sobel, Adam H. Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, Vol. 1, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.3894/JAMES.2009.1.9	journal	March 2009
Subtropical Low Cloud Response to a Warmer Climate in a Superparameterized Climate Model. Part II: Column Modeling with a Cloud Resolving Model: COLUMN MODELING OF SUBTROPICAL LOW CLOUD RESPONSE Blossey, Peter N.; Bretherton, Christopher S.; Wyant, Matthew C. Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, Vol. 1, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.3894/JAMES.2009.1.8	journal	March 2009
Large-eddy simulation of organized precipitating trade wind cumulus clouds Seifert, A.; Heus, T. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, Vol. 13, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-5631-2013	journal	January 2013

Cited By (5)

Self-Aggregation of Deep Convection and its Implications for Climate Wing, Allison A. Current Climate Change Reports, Vol. 5, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1007/s40641-019-00120-3	journal	January 2019
Cloud Ice Processes Enhance Spatial Scales of Organization in Arctic Stratocumulus Eirund, Gesa K.; Lohmann, Ulrike; Possner, Anna Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 46, Issue 23 https://doi.org/10.1029/2019gl084959	journal	December 2019
On Cold Pool Collisions in Tropical Boundary Layers Torri, Giuseppe; Kuang, Zhiming Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 46, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1029/2018gl080501	journal	January 2019
Understanding Negative Subtropical Shallow Cumulus Cloud Feedbacks in a Near‐Global Aquaplanet Model Using Limited Area Cloud‐Resolving Simulations Narenpitak, Pornampai; Bretherton, Christopher S. Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, Vol. 11, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1029/2018ms001572	journal	June 2019
Understanding the Moisture Variance in Precipitating Shallow Cumulus Convection Anurose, T. J.; Bašták Ďurán, Ivan; Schmidli, Juerg Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, Vol. 125, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1029/2019jd031178	journal	January 2020

Similar Records

Understanding Negative Subtropical Shallow Cumulus Cloud Feedbacks in a Near‐Global Aquaplanet Model Using Limited Area Cloud‐Resolving Simulations

Journal Article · Wed Jun 12 00:00:00 EDT 2019 · Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems · OSTI ID:1511477

Narenpitak, Pornampai; Bretherton, Christopher S.

Surface-based observations of mesoscale cumulus-stratocumulus interaction during ASTEX

Journal Article · Tue Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 1995 · Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences · OSTI ID:1511477

Miller, M A; Albrecht, B A

Effects of mesoscale convective organization and vertical wind shear on the cumulus-environment interaction

Miscellaneous · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992 · OSTI ID:1511477

Wu, Xiaoqing

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
cumulus convection
mesoscale organization
large‐eddy simulation
humidity feedback
mesoscale cellular convection
aggregation

Title: Understanding Mesoscale Aggregation of Shallow Cumulus Convection Using Large-Eddy Simulation

Citation Formats

References (42)

Cited By (5)

Similar Records

Related Subjects