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An Investigation of Hydrometeor Latent Cooling upon Convective Cold Pool Formation, Sustainment, and Properties

Journal Article · · Monthly Weather Review
 [1];  [1]
  1. University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
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Downdrafts extending from convective clouds can produce cold pools that propagate outward, sometimes initiating new convection along their leading edges. Models operating at scales requiring convective parameterizations usually lack representation of this detail, and thus fail to predict this convective regeneration and longer episodes of convective activity. Developing such parameterizations requires an improved understanding of the physical drivers of cold pools, and detailed studies of the roles of all the contributing microphysical processes have been lacking. This study utilizes a set of 12 simulations conducted within a single convective environment, but with variability in the microphysical fields produced by varying parameters influencing warm-rain or ice processes. Time-integrated microphysical budgets quantify the contribution of each hydrometeor type to the total latent cooling occurring in the downdrafts that form and sustain the cold pool. The timing of the onset of the cold pool is earlier in cases with a stronger warm rain process, but both graupel and rain were equally as likely to be the dominant hydrometeor in the downdraft first forming the cold pool. Graupel sublimation is the dominant term in sustaining the cold pool in all simulations, but the evaporation of rain has the strongest correlation to the cold pool expansion rate, depth, and intensity. Reconciling the current results with past studies elucidates the importance of considering: graupel sublimation, the latent cooling only in downdrafts contributing to the cold pool, and latent cooling in those downdrafts at altitudes that may be significantly higher than the melting level.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0014101
OSTI ID:
1564403
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1612079
Journal Information:
Monthly Weather Review, Journal Name: Monthly Weather Review Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 147; ISSN 0027-0644
Publisher:
American Meteorological SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
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