Factors influencing the parameterization of tropical anvils within general circulation models

Conference · Sat Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:83161

Bradley, M M; Chin, H N.S. ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)

The overall goal of this project is to improve the representation in general circulation models (GCMs) of anvil clouds and their effects. We have concentrated on an important portion of the overall goal; the evolution of cumulus-generated anvil clouds and their effects on the large-scale environment. Because of the large range of spatial and temporal scales involved, we have been using a multi-scale approach. For the early-time generation and development of the cirrus anvil, we are using a cloud-scale model with a horizontal resolution of 1-2 kilometers, while for the transport of anvils by the large-scale flow, we are using a mesoscale model with a horizontal resolution of 10-40 kilometers. The eventual goal is to use the information obtained from these simulations, together with available observations, to develop an improved cloud parameterization for use in GCMs. The cloud-scale simulation of a midlatitude squall line case and the mesoscale study of a tropical anvil using an anvil generator were presented at the last Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) science team meeting. This paper concentrates on the cloud-scale study of a tropical squall line. Results are compared with its midlatitude counter-parts to further our understanding of the formation mechanism of anvil clouds and the sensitivity of radiation to their optical properties.

• Research Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Research, Washington, DC (United States). Environmental Sciences Div.
• OSTI ID: 83161
• Report Number(s): CONF-940277--; ON: DE95009951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
CLOUDS
GENERAL CIRCULATION MODELS
PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS
RESOLUTION
SENSITIVITY
SIMULATION