Publication Abstracts

Del Genio et al. 2012

Del Genio, A.D., J. Wu, and Y. Chen, 2012: Characteristics of mesoscale organization in WRF simulations of convection during TWP-ICE. J. Climate, 25, 5666-5688, doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-11-00422.1.

Compared to satellite-derived heating profiles, the Goddard Institute for Space Studies general circulation model (GCM) convective heating is too deep and its stratiform upper level heating too weak. This deficiency highlights the need for GCMs to parameterize mesoscale organization of convection. Cloud-resolving model simulations of convection near Darwin, Australia in weak wind shear environments of different humidities are used to characterize mesoscale organization processes and provide parameterization guidance. Downdraft cold pools appear to stimulate further deep convection both through their effect on eddy size and vertical velocity. Anomalously humid air surrounds updrafts, reducing the efficacy of entrainment. Recovery of cold pool properties to ambient conditions over 5-6 hr proceeds differently over land and ocean. Over ocean increased surface fluxes restore the cold pool to pre-storm conditions. Over land surface fluxes are suppressed in the cold pool region; temperature decreases and humidity increases and both then remain nearly constant while the undisturbed environment cools diurnally. The upper troposphere stratiform rain region area lags convection by 5-6 hr under humid active monsoon conditions but by only 1-2 hr during drier break periods, suggesting that mesoscale organization is more readily sustained in a humid environment. Stratiform region hydrometeor mixing ratio lags convection by 0-2 hr, suggesting that it is strongly influenced by detrainment from convective updrafts. Small stratiform region temperature anomalies suggest that a mesoscale updraft parameterization initialized with properties of buoyant detrained air and evolving to a balance between diabatic heating and adiabatic cooling might be a plausible approach for GCMs.

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BibTeX Citation

@article{de04500f,
  author={Del Genio, A. D. and Wu, J. and Chen, Y.},
  title={Characteristics of mesoscale organization in WRF simulations of convection during TWP-ICE},
  year={2012},
  journal={Journal of Climate},
  volume={25},
  pages={5666--5688},
  doi={10.1175/JCLI-D-11-00422.1},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - de04500f
AU  - Del Genio, A. D.
AU  - Wu, J.
AU  - Chen, Y.
PY  - 2012
TI  - Characteristics of mesoscale organization in WRF simulations of convection during TWP-ICE
JA  - J. Climate
JO  - Journal of Climate
VL  - 25
SP  - 5666
EP  - 5688
DO  - 10.1175/JCLI-D-11-00422.1
ER  -

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