Structure and Evolution of Mesoscale Convective Systems: Sensitivity to Cloud Microphysics in Convection‐Permitting Simulations Over the United States
Abstract
Abstract Regional climate simulations over the continental United States were conducted for the 2011 warm season using the Weather Research and Forecasting model at convection‐permitting resolution (4 km) with two commonly used microphysics parameterizations (Thompson and Morrison). Sensitivities of the simulated mesoscale convective system (MCS) properties and feedbacks to large‐scale environments are systematically examined against high‐resolution geostationary satellite and 3‐D mosaic radar observations. MCS precipitation including precipitation amount, diurnal cycle, and distribution of hourly precipitation intensity are reasonably captured by the two simulations despite significant differences in their simulated MCS properties. In general, the Thompson simulation produces better agreement with observations for MCS upper level cloud shield and precipitation area, convective feature horizontal and vertical extents, and partitioning between convective and stratiform precipitation. More importantly, Thompson simulates more stratiform rainfall, which agrees better with observations and results in top‐heavier heating profiles from robust MCSs compared to Morrison. A stronger dynamical feedback to the large‐scale environment is therefore seen in Thompson, wherein an enhanced mesoscale vortex behind the MCS strengthens the synoptic‐scale trough and promotes advection of cool and dry air into the rear of the MCS region. The latter prolongs the MCS lifetimes in the Thompson relative to the Morrison simulations.more »
- Authors:
-
[1];
[2];
[1];
[1];
[1];
[3];
[1]
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland WA USA
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland WA USA, Department of Atmospheric Sciences University of Washington Seattle WA USA
- School of Atmospheric Sciences Nanjing University Nanjing China
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1459037
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1459039; OSTI ID: 1464495
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-133754
Journal ID: ISSN 1942-2466
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830; 243766
- Resource Type:
- Published Article
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Name: Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems Journal Volume: 10 Journal Issue: 7; Journal ID: ISSN 1942-2466
- Publisher:
- American Geophysical Union (AGU)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; mesoscale convection; climate simulation; storm tracking; cloud microphysics; precipitation; radar observations
Citation Formats
Feng, Zhe, Leung, L. Ruby, Houze, Jr., Robert A., Hagos, Samson, Hardin, Joseph, Yang, Qing, Han, Bin, and Fan, Jiwen. Structure and Evolution of Mesoscale Convective Systems: Sensitivity to Cloud Microphysics in Convection‐Permitting Simulations Over the United States. United States: N. p., 2018.
Web. doi:10.1029/2018MS001305.
Feng, Zhe, Leung, L. Ruby, Houze, Jr., Robert A., Hagos, Samson, Hardin, Joseph, Yang, Qing, Han, Bin, & Fan, Jiwen. Structure and Evolution of Mesoscale Convective Systems: Sensitivity to Cloud Microphysics in Convection‐Permitting Simulations Over the United States. United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018MS001305
Feng, Zhe, Leung, L. Ruby, Houze, Jr., Robert A., Hagos, Samson, Hardin, Joseph, Yang, Qing, Han, Bin, and Fan, Jiwen. Thu .
"Structure and Evolution of Mesoscale Convective Systems: Sensitivity to Cloud Microphysics in Convection‐Permitting Simulations Over the United States". United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018MS001305.
@article{osti_1459037,
title = {Structure and Evolution of Mesoscale Convective Systems: Sensitivity to Cloud Microphysics in Convection‐Permitting Simulations Over the United States},
author = {Feng, Zhe and Leung, L. Ruby and Houze, Jr., Robert A. and Hagos, Samson and Hardin, Joseph and Yang, Qing and Han, Bin and Fan, Jiwen},
abstractNote = {Abstract Regional climate simulations over the continental United States were conducted for the 2011 warm season using the Weather Research and Forecasting model at convection‐permitting resolution (4 km) with two commonly used microphysics parameterizations (Thompson and Morrison). Sensitivities of the simulated mesoscale convective system (MCS) properties and feedbacks to large‐scale environments are systematically examined against high‐resolution geostationary satellite and 3‐D mosaic radar observations. MCS precipitation including precipitation amount, diurnal cycle, and distribution of hourly precipitation intensity are reasonably captured by the two simulations despite significant differences in their simulated MCS properties. In general, the Thompson simulation produces better agreement with observations for MCS upper level cloud shield and precipitation area, convective feature horizontal and vertical extents, and partitioning between convective and stratiform precipitation. More importantly, Thompson simulates more stratiform rainfall, which agrees better with observations and results in top‐heavier heating profiles from robust MCSs compared to Morrison. A stronger dynamical feedback to the large‐scale environment is therefore seen in Thompson, wherein an enhanced mesoscale vortex behind the MCS strengthens the synoptic‐scale trough and promotes advection of cool and dry air into the rear of the MCS region. The latter prolongs the MCS lifetimes in the Thompson relative to the Morrison simulations. Hence, different treatment of cloud microphysics not only alters MCS convective‐scale dynamics but also has significant impacts on their macrophysical properties such as lifetime and precipitation. As long‐lived MCSs produced 2–3 times the amount of rainfall compared to short‐lived ones, cloud microphysics parameterizations have profound impact in simulating extreme precipitation and the hydrologic cycle.},
doi = {10.1029/2018MS001305},
journal = {Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems},
number = 7,
volume = 10,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jul 05 00:00:00 EDT 2018},
month = {Thu Jul 05 00:00:00 EDT 2018}
}
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