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Modelling convective processes during the suppressed phase of a Madden-Julian oscillation: Comparing single-column models with cloud-resolving models

Authors :
Woolnough, Steven
Blossey, Peter
Xu, K.-M.
Bechtold, Peter
Chaboureau, Jean-Pierre
Hosomi, T.
Lacobellis, S. F.
Luo, Y.
Petch, J. C.
Wong, R. Y.
Xie, S.
NCAS-Climate [Reading]
Department of Meteorology [Reading]
University of Reading (UOR)-University of Reading (UOR)
Univ Washington, Dept Atmospher Sci, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)
Laboratoire d'aérologie (LAERO)
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP)
Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3)
Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées
Department of Botany and Microbiology [Norman]
University of Oklahoma (OU)
Department of Atmospheric Sciences [Seattle]
University of Washington [Seattle]
Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3)
Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP)
Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3)
Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France -Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France -Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
Source :
Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, Wiley, 2010, 136 (647), pp.333-353. ⟨10.1002/qj.568⟩, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 2010, 136 (647), pp.333-353. ⟨10.1002/qj.568⟩
Publication Year :
2010
Publisher :
HAL CCSD, 2010.

Abstract

International audience; The role of convective processes in moistening the atmosphere during suppressed periods of the suppressed phase of a Madden-Julian oscillation is investigated in cloud-resolving model (CRM) simulations, and the impact of moistening on the subsequent evolution of convection is assessed as part of a Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment Cloud System Study (GCSS) intercomparison project. The ability of single-column model (SCM) versions of a number of state-of-the-art climate and numerical weather prediction models to capture these convective processes is also evaluated. During the suppressed periods, the CRMs are found to simulate a maximum moistening around 3 km, which is associated with a predominance of shallow convection. All SCMs produce adequate amounts of shallow convection during the suppressed periods, comparable to that seen in CRMs, but the relatively drier SCMs have higher precipitation rates than the relatively wetter SCMs and CRMs. The relatively drier SCMs dry, rather than moisten, the lower troposphere below the melting level. During the transition periods, convective processes act to moisten the atmosphere above the level at which mean advection changes from moistening to drying, despite an overall drying effect for the column. The SCMs capture some essence of this moistening at upper levels. A gradual transition from shallow to deep convection is simulated by the CRMs and the wetter SCMs during the transition periods, but the onset of deep convection is delayed in the drier SCMs. This results in lower precipitation rates for these SCMs during the active periods, although much better agreement exists between the models at this time.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00359009 and 1477870X
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, Wiley, 2010, 136 (647), pp.333-353. ⟨10.1002/qj.568⟩, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 2010, 136 (647), pp.333-353. ⟨10.1002/qj.568⟩
Accession number :
edsair.dedup.wf.001..f08885405cb784843c2b94c153695c19