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Title: RACORO continental boundary layer cloud investigations. Part I: Case study development and ensemble large-scale forcings

Journal Article · · Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JD022713· OSTI ID:1188220
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [1];  [3];  [4];  [2];  [6];  [6]
  1. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
  2. NASA Goddard Inst. for Space Studies (GISS), New York, NY (United States)
  3. UCLA Joint Institute for Regional Earth System and Engineering (JIFRESSE), Los Angeles, CA (United States); California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA (United States)
  4. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
  5. NOAA National Severe Storms Lab., Norman, OK (United States)
  6. Stony Brook Univ., NY (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations

Observation-based modeling case studies of continental boundary layer clouds have been developed to study cloudy boundary layers, aerosol influences upon them, and their representation in cloud- and global-scale models. Three 60-hour case study periods span the temporal evolution of cumulus, stratiform, and drizzling boundary layer cloud systems, representing mixed and transitional states rather than idealized or canonical cases. Based on in-situ measurements from the RACORO field campaign and remote-sensing observations, the cases are designed with a modular configuration to simplify use in large-eddy simulations (LES) and single-column models. Aircraft measurements of aerosol number size distribution are fit to lognormal functions for concise representation in models. Values of the aerosol hygroscopicity parameter, κ, are derived from observations to be ~0.10, which are lower than the 0.3 typical over continents and suggestive of a large aerosol organic fraction. Ensemble large-scale forcing datasets are derived from the ARM variational analysis, ECMWF forecasts, and a multi-scale data assimilation system. The forcings are assessed through comparison of measured bulk atmospheric and cloud properties to those computed in 'trial' large-eddy simulations, where more efficient run times are enabled through modest reductions in grid resolution and domain size compared to the full-sized LES grid. Simulations capture many of the general features observed, but the state-of-the-art forcings were limited at representing details of cloud onset, and tight gradients and high-resolution transients of importance. Methods for improving the initial conditions and forcings are discussed. The cases developed are available to the general modeling community for studying continental boundary clouds.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC00112704
OSTI ID:
1188220
Report Number(s):
BNL-107839-2015-JA; R&D Project: 2016-BNL-EE630EECA-Budg; KP1701000
Journal Information:
Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, Vol. 90, Issue 12; ISSN 2169-897X
Publisher:
American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 18 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (4)

On Which Microphysical Time Scales to Use in Studies of Entrainment‐Mixing Mechanisms in Clouds journal April 2018
Differences in Eddy‐Correlation and Energy‐Balance Surface Turbulent Heat Flux Measurements and Their Impacts on the Large‐Scale Forcing Fields at the ARM SGP Site journal March 2019
Persistent Supercooled Drizzle at Temperatures Below −25 °C Observed at McMurdo Station, Antarctica journal October 2019
Impacts of solar-absorbing aerosol layers on the transition of stratocumulus to trade cumulus clouds journal January 2017

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