1. The Added Value of Large-eddy and Storm-resolving Models for Simulating Clouds and Precipitation
- Author
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Sebastian Brune, Andreas Macke, Julia Windmiller, Fabian Senf, Akio Hansen, Ulrike Burkhardt, Hartwig Deneke, Susanne Crewell, Metodija Shapkalijevski, Fabian Jakub, Aiko Voigt, Clemens Simmer, Traute Crüger, Jessica Vial, Martin Köhler, Petra Friederichs, Joachim Biercamp, Rieke Heinze, Matthias Brueck, Niklas Röber, Thirza W. van Laar, Vera Schemann, Puxi Li, Leonhard Scheck, Bernhard Mayer, Ioanna Arka, Sabrina Schnitt, Guido Cioni, Nicolas Rochetin, Dela Spickermann, Montserrat Costa-Surós, Axel Seifert, Vasileios Barlakas, Günter Zängl, Karsten Peters, Cintia Carbajal Henken, Christine Nam, Nils Madenach, Norbert Kalthoff, Shweta Singh, Marek Jacob, Johan Strandgren, Ulrich Löhnert, Octave Tessiot, Panagiotis Adamidis, Stefan A. Buehler, Ann Kristin Naumann, Bjorn Stevens, Johannes Quaas, Cathy Hohenegger, Carolin Klinger, Daniel Klocke, Claudia Acquistapace, Wiebke Schubotz, Odran Sourdeval, Stefan Poll, Nikki Vercauteren, Harald Rybka, Université de Lille, CNRS, Max Planck Institute for Meteorology [MPI-M], Universität zu Köln = University of Cologne, Universität Hamburg [UHH], Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie [MPI-M], Ludwig-Maximilians University [Munich] [LMU], Hans Ertel Zentrum für Wetterforschung [Offenbach], Deutscher Wetterdienst [Offenbach] [DWD], Deutsches Klimarechenzentrum [Hamburg] [DKRZ], Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt [DLR], Leibniz-Institut für Troposphärenforschung [TROPOS], Universität Bonn = University of Bonn, Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research [TROPOS], Freie Universität Berlin, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie [KIT], Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences [CAMS], Chinese Academy of Sciences [Beijing] [CAS], Climate Service Center [Hambourg] [GERICS], Universität Leipzig, Institut für Energie- und Klimaforschung - Troposphäre [IEK-8], Laboratoire d'Optique Atmosphérique (LOA) - UMR 8518, Ecole Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay [ENS Paris Saclay], Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory [LDEO], Max Planck Institute for Meteorology (MPI-M), Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Universität Hamburg (UHH), Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie (MPI-M), Ludwig-Maximilians University [Munich] (LMU), Deutscher Wetterdienst [Offenbach] (DWD), Deutsches Klimarechenzentrum [Hamburg] (DKRZ), Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Leibniz-Institut für Troposphärenforschung (TROPOS), Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT), Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences (CAMS), Chinese Academy of Sciences [Beijing] (CAS), Climate Service Center [Hambourg] (GERICS), Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht (GKSS), Institut für Energie- und Klimaforschung - Troposphäre (IEK-8), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH | Centre de recherche de Juliers, Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft = Helmholtz Association-Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft = Helmholtz Association, Laboratoire d’Optique Atmosphérique - UMR 8518 (LOA), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université de Lille-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Ecole Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay (ENS Paris Saclay), Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO), and Columbia University [New York]
- Subjects
Convection ,Atmospheric Science ,010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,Meteorology ,Cloud cover ,representation of clouds and precipitation ,0211 other engineering and technologies ,storm-resolving models ,large-eddy simulation ,clouds ,precipitation ,climate change ,cloud-resolving models ,Climate change ,02 engineering and technology ,01 natural sciences ,Physics::Geophysics ,Diurnal cycle ,ddc:550 ,Precipitation ,Physics::Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics ,021101 geological & geomatics engineering ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,high resolution modelling ,[SDU.OCEAN]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Ocean, Atmosphere ,Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre ,added value of high resolution ,Storm ,Earth sciences ,Convective storm detection ,Environmental science ,Large eddy simulation - Abstract
More than one hundred days were simulated over very large domains with fine (0.156 km to 2.5 km) grid spacing for realistic conditions to test the hypothesis that storm (kilometer) and large-eddy (hectometer) resolving simulations would provide an improved representation of clouds and precipitation in atmospheric simulations. At scales that resolve convective storms (storm-resolving for short), the vertical velocity variance becomes resolved and a better physical basis is achieved for representing clouds and precipitation. Similarly to past studies we found an improved representation of precipitation at kilometer scales, as compared to models with parameterized convection. The main precipitation features (location, diurnal cycle and spatial propagation) are well captured already at kilometer scales, and refining resolution to hectometer scales does not substantially change the simu-lations in these respects. It does, however, lead to a reduction in the precipitation on the time-scales considered – most notably over the ocean in the tropics. Changes in the distribution of precipitation, with less frequent extremes are also found in simulations incorporating hectometer scales. Hectometer scales appear to be more important for the representation of clouds, and make it possible to capture many important aspects of the cloud field, from the vertical distribution of cloud cover, to the distribution of cloud sizes, and to the diel (daily) cycle. Qualitative improvements, particularly in the ability to differentiate cumulus from stratiform clouds, are seen when one reduces the grid spacing from kilometer to hectometer scales. At the hectometer scale new challenges arise, but the similarity of observed and simulated scales, and the more direct connection between the circula-tion and the unconstrained degrees of freedom make these challenges less daunting. This quality, combined with already improved simulation as compared to more parameterized models, underpins our conviction that the use and further development of storm-resolving models offers exciting opportunities for advancing understanding of climate and climate change.
- Published
- 2020
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