skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Improving representation of convective transport for scale-aware parameterization: 1. Convection and cloud properties simulated with spectral bin and bulk microphysics

Journal Article · · Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JD022142· OSTI ID:1391863
 [1];  [2];  [3]; ORCiD logo [4];  [5];  [6];  [7];  [8];  [1]; ORCiD logo [1]
  1. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
  2. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States); Air Resources Board, Sacramento, CA (United States)
  3. NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA (United States)
  4. McGill Univ., Montreal, QC (Canada)
  5. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
  6. Univ. of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND (United States)
  7. Univ. of California, La Jolla, CA (United States). Scripps Inst. of Oceanography
  8. Nanjing Univ. of Information Science and Technology (China)
+ Show Author Affiliations

The ultimate goal of this study is to improve the representation of convective transport by cumulus parameterization for mesoscale and climate models. As Part 1 of the study, we perform extensive evaluations of cloud-resolving simulations of a squall line and mesoscale convective complexes in midlatitude continent and tropical regions using the Weather Research and Forecasting model with spectral bin microphysics (SBM) and with two double-moment bulk microphysics schemes: a modified Morrison (MOR) and Milbrandt and Yau (MY2). Compared to observations, in general, SBM gives better simulations of precipitation and vertical velocity of convective cores than MOR and MY2 and therefore will be used for analysis of scale dependence of eddy transport in Part 2. We report the common features of the simulations for all convective systems are (1) the model tends to overestimate convection intensity in the middle and upper troposphere, but SBM can alleviate much of the overestimation and reproduce the observed convection intensity well; (2) the model greatly overestimates Ze in convective cores, especially for the weak updraft velocity; and (3) the model performs better for midlatitude convective systems than the tropical system. The modeled mass fluxes of the midlatitude systems are not sensitive to microphysics schemes but are very sensitive for the tropical case indicating strong microphysics modification to convection. Cloud microphysical measurements of rain, snow, and graupel in convective cores will be critically important to further elucidate issues within cloud microphysics schemes

Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States); Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR). Scientific Discovery through Advanced Computing (SciDAC); National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357; AC06-76RLO1830; SC0008468
OSTI ID:
1391863
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1402190
Journal Information:
Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, Vol. 120, Issue 8; ISSN 2169-897X
Publisher:
American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 53 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (79)

Dominant role by vertical wind shear in regulating aerosol effects on deep convective clouds journal January 2009
The Kain–Fritsch Convective Parameterization: An Update journal January 2004
A New Vertical Diffusion Package with an Explicit Treatment of Entrainment Processes journal September 2006
A One-Dimensional Entraining/Detraining Plume Model and Its Application in Convective Parameterization journal December 1990
Breaking the Cloud Parameterization Deadlock journal November 2003
Cumulonimbus Vertical Velocity Events in GATE. Part I: Diameter, Intensity and Mass Flux journal November 1980
Simulation of a supercell storm in clean and dirty atmosphere using weather research and forecast model with spectral bin microphysics journal January 2009
Investigation of ice cloud microphysical properties of DCSs using aircraft in situ measurements during MC3E over the ARM SGP site: Microphysical properties of DCS journal April 2015
Simulation of Effects of Atmospheric Aerosols on Deep Turbulent Convective Clouds Using a Spectral Microphysics Mixed-Phase Cumulus Cloud Model. Part I: Model Description and Possible Applications journal December 2004
Precipitation intensity and variation during MC3E: A numerical modeling study: DIURNAL VARIATION OF PRECIPITATION journal July 2013
A Multimoment Bulk Microphysics Parameterization. Part I: Analysis of the Role of the Spectral Shape Parameter journal September 2005
Ice formation in Arctic mixed-phase clouds: Insights from a 3-D cloud-resolving model with size-resolved aerosol and cloud microphysics journal January 2009
Improving representation of convective transport for scale-aware parameterization: 2. Analysis of cloud-resolving model simulations: Improving Cumulus Parameterization journal April 2015
Spontaneous onset of a Madden-Julian oscillation event in a cloud-system-resolving simulation journal January 2009
Sensitivity of a Cloud-Resolving Model to Bulk and Explicit Bin Microphysical Schemes. Part II: Cloud Microphysics and Storm Dynamics Interactions journal January 2009
Evaluation of cloud-resolving model intercomparison simulations using TWP-ICE observations: Precipitation and cloud structure journal January 2011
A scale and aerosol aware stochastic convective parameterization for weather and air quality modeling journal January 2013
A limited area model (LAM) intercomparison study of a TWP-ICE active monsoon mesoscale convective event: LAM INTERCOMPARISON OF TWP-ICE journal June 2012
A New Cloud Physics Parameterization in a Large-Eddy Simulation Model of Marine Stratocumulus journal January 2000
Ice Initiation in Natural Clouds journal December 1986
An Idealized Cloud-Resolving Framework for the Study of Midlatitude Diurnal Convection over Land journal May 2011
Comments on “A Unified Representation of Deep Moist Convection in Numerical Modeling of the Atmosphere. Part I” journal June 2015
A Unified Representation of Deep Moist Convection in Numerical Modeling of the Atmosphere. Part II journal June 2014
Top-of-atmosphere radiation budget of convective core/stratiform rain and anvil clouds from deep convective systems: CONVECTIVE CORE ANVIL CLOUD RADIATION journal December 2011
Impacts of microphysical scheme on convective and stratiform characteristics in two high precipitation squall line events: MICROPHYSICAL IMPACTS ON SQUALL LINE journal October 2013
Two distinct modes in one‐day rainfall event during MC3E field campaign: Analyses of disdrometer observations and WRF‐SBM simulation journal December 2012
The BMRC/NCAR C-Band Polarimetric (C-POL) Radar System journal August 1998
Improving bulk microphysics parameterizations in simulations of aerosol effects: IMPROVING BULK MICROPHYSICS IN WRF journal June 2013
Tropical anvil characteristics and water vapor of the tropical tropopause layer: Impact of heterogeneous and homogeneous freezing parameterizations journal January 2010
A Unified Representation of Deep Moist Convection in Numerical Modeling of the Atmosphere. Part I journal July 2013
Aerosol Effects on Intensity of Landfalling Hurricanes as Seen from Simulations with the WRF Model with Spectral Bin Microphysics journal February 2010
The Macroscopic Behavior of Cumulus Ensembles Simulated by a Cumulus Ensemble Model journal December 1992
Sensitivity of a Cloud-Resolving Model to Bulk and Explicit Bin Microphysical Schemes. Part I: Comparisons journal January 2009
The WSR-88D Rainfall Algorithm journal June 1998
Comparing clouds and their seasonal variations in 10 atmospheric general circulation models with satellite measurements journal January 2005
Impact of Cloud Microphysics on the Development of Trailing Stratiform Precipitation in a Simulated Squall Line: Comparison of One- and Two-Moment Schemes journal March 2009
A parameterization of aerosol activation 3. Sectional representation journal January 2002
New Primary Ice-Nucleation Parameterizations in an Explicit Cloud Model journal July 1992
Implementation of a two-moment bulk microphysics scheme to the WRF model to investigate aerosol-cloud interaction journal January 2008
Simulation of shallow cumuli and their transition to deep convective clouds by cloud-resolving models with different third-order turbulence closures journal January 2006
Flood or Drought: How Do Aerosols Affect Precipitation? journal September 2008
A comparison of spectral bin and two-moment bulk mixed-phase cloud microphysics journal April 2006
Vertical Air Motion Retrieved from Dual-Frequency Profiler Observations journal October 2012
Explicit Simulation of Midlatitude Cumulus Ensembles: Comparison with ARM Data journal September 2000
Characteristics of Deep Tropical and Subtropical Convection from Nadir-Viewing High-Altitude Airborne Doppler Radar journal February 2010
A comparison of TWP-ICE observational data with cloud-resolving model results: COMPARING TWP-ICE DATA WITH CRM RESULTS journal March 2012
Effects of aerosols on the dynamics and microphysics of squall lines simulated by spectral bin and bulk parameterization schemes journal January 2009
A New Double-Moment Microphysics Parameterization for Application in Cloud and Climate Models. Part I: Description journal June 2005
Spectral (Bin) Microphysics Coupled with a Mesoscale Model (MM5). Part I: Model Description and First Results journal January 2005
Sensitivity of climate simulations to the parameterization of cumulus convection in the Canadian climate centre general circulation model journal September 1995
Interaction of a Cumulus Cloud Ensemble with the Large-Scale Environment, Part I journal April 1974
Are simulated aerosol-induced effects on deep convective clouds strongly dependent on saturation adjustment? journal January 2012
An intercomparison of cloud-resolving models with the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement summer 1997 Intensive Observation Period data journal January 2002
Spectral (Bin) Microphysics Coupled with a Mesoscale Model (MM5). Part II: Simulation of a CaPE Rain Event with a Squall Line journal January 2005
The Role of Contact Nucleation in Ice Phase Initiation in Clouds journal April 1974
The Tropical Warm Pool International Cloud Experiment journal May 2008
Comparison of Two-Moment Bulk Microphysics Schemes in Idealized Supercell Thunderstorm Simulations journal April 2011
Cloud Systems, Hurricanes, and the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM): A Tribute to Joanne Simpson book January 2003
Representation of Arctic mixed-phase clouds and the Wegener-Bergeron-Findeisen process in climate models: Perspectives from a cloud-resolving study journal January 2011
The Cumulus Parameterization Problem: Past, Present, and Future journal July 2004
Microphysical effects determine macrophysical response for aerosol impacts on deep convective clouds journal November 2013
A Comprehensive Mass Flux Scheme for Cumulus Parameterization in Large-Scale Models journal August 1989
Updraft and Downdraft Statistics of Simulated Tropical and Midlatitude Cumulus Convection journal July 2001
Toward unification of the multiscale modeling of the atmosphere journal January 2011
Predicting global atmospheric ice nuclei distributions and their impacts on climate journal June 2010
Radiative forcing by long-lived greenhouse gases: Calculations with the AER radiative transfer models journal January 2008
Airborne Radar Observations of Severe Hailstorms: Implications for Future Spaceborne Radar journal August 2013
Explicit Simulation of Cumulus Ensembles with the GATE Phase III Data: Comparison with Observations journal December 1996
Aerosol impacts on clouds and precipitation in eastern China: Results from bin and bulk microphysics: AEROSOL IMPACTS ON CLOUDS journal January 2012
A Multimoment Bulk Microphysics Parameterization. Part II: A Proposed Three-Moment Closure and Scheme Description journal September 2005
Aerosol impact on the dynamics and microphysics of deep convective clouds journal October 2005
The formation of atmospheric ice crystals by the freezing of droplets journal October 1953
A comprehensive two-moment warm microphysical bulk scheme. I: Description and tests journal July 2000
Coupling an Advanced Land Surface–Hydrology Model with the Penn State–NCAR MM5 Modeling System. Part I: Model Implementation and Sensitivity journal April 2001
Effects of aerosols and relative humidity on cumulus clouds journal January 2007
Statistics of Storm Updraft Velocities from TWP-ICE Including Verification with Profiling Measurements journal August 2013
An Analysis of Cloud Drop Growth by Collection: Part III. Accretion and Self-collection journal November 1974
Potential aerosol indirect effects on atmospheric circulation and radiative forcing through deep convection: AEROSOL-DEEP CONVECTION INTERACTIONS journal May 2012
Goddard Cumulus Ensemble (GCE) Model: Application for Understanding Precipitation Processes book January 2003

Cited By (5)

Are atmospheric updrafts a key to unlocking climate forcing and sensitivity? journal January 2016
Comparison of Simulations of Updraft Mass Fluxes and Their Response to Increasing Aerosol Concentration between a Bin Scheme and a Bulk Scheme in a Deep-Convective Cloud System journal June 2019
The Potential for Discriminating Microphysical Processes in Numerical Weather Forecasts Using Airborne Polarimetric Radio Occultations journal September 2019
Estimation of liquid water path below the melting layer in stratiform precipitation systems using radar measurements during MC3E journal January 2019
Are atmospheric updrafts a key to unlocking climate forcing and sensitivity? text January 2016

Similar Records

Improving Representation of Convective Transport for Scale-Aware Parameterization – Part I: Convection and Cloud Properties Simulated with Spectral Bin and Bulk Microphysics
Journal Article · Mon Apr 27 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Journal of Geophysical Research. D. (Atmospheres), 120:3485-3509 · OSTI ID:1391863
+6 more
Simulating a Mesoscale Convective System Using WRF with a New Spectral Bin Microphysics: Part 1: Hail vs Graupel
Journal Article · Fri Dec 27 00:00:00 EST 2019 · Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres · OSTI ID:1391863
+6 more
Simulating a Mesoscale Convective System Using WRF With a New Spectral Bin Microphysics: 1: Hail vs Graupel
Journal Article · Sat Dec 21 00:00:00 EST 2019 · Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres · OSTI ID:1391863
+6 more

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
cumulus parameterization
scale aware
deep convection
cloud‐resolving models
bin and bulk microphysics