Evaluation of a New Mixed-Phase Cloud Microphysics Parameterization with CAM3 Single-Column Model and M-PACE Observations

Journal Article · Fri Dec 14 04:00:00 EST 2007 · Geophysical Research Letters, 34:Art. no. L23712

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2007GL031446· OSTI ID:921563

Liu, Xiaohong; Xie, Shaocheng; Ghan, Steven J

Most global climate models generally prescribe the partitioning of condensed water into liquid droplets and ice crystals in mixed-phase clouds according to a temperature-dependent function, which affects modeled cloud phase, cloud lifetime and radiative properties. This study evaluates a new mixed-phase cloud microphysics parameterization (for ice nucleation and water vapor deposition) against the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Mixed-phase Arctic Cloud Experiment (M-PACE) observations using the NCAR Community Atmospheric Model Version 3 (CAM3) single column model (SCAM). It is shown that SCAM with the new scheme produces a more realistic simulation of the cloud phase structure and the partitioning of condensed waterinto liquid droplets against observations during the M-PACE than the standard CAM. Sensitivity test indicates that ice number concentration could play an important role in the simulated mixed-phase cloud microphysics, and thereby needs to be realistically represented in global climate models.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 921563
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-56327; KP1205010
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters, 34:Art. no. L23712, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters, 34:Art. no. L23712 Vol. 34; ISSN GPRLAJ; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CLIMATE MODELS
CLOUDS
DEPOSITION
EVALUATION
LIFETIME
NUCLEATION
RADIATIONS
SENSITIVITY
SIMULATION
WATER
WATER VAPOR