A first order mixing–condensation scheme for nocturnal stratocumulus

A simple closure scheme for nocturnal stratocumulus is proposed. The scheme is formulated in conserved variables. Cloud fraction and cloud water amount are diagnosed assuming a top-hat distribution for total water. Conversion of cloud water into rain water is parameterized in terms of cloud water and the incoming rain flux. Turbulence transport in the cloud layer is accounted for by a first-order vertical diffusion scheme with a profile-type diffusivity. The length scale corresponds to the thickness of the cloud layer. The turbulent velocity scale is directly related to the long wave radiative flux divergence in the cloud. Entrainment at cloud top is implicitly treated by extending the in-cloud mixing profile slightly beyond cloud top. The excess height is derived from the buoyancy frequency at cloud top and a radiative–convective velocity scale. The scheme is capable of simulating realistic profiles of the conserved variables and cloud parameters for a case of nocturnal stratocumulus prepared on the basis of ASTEX data.     

A Statistically-Based Low-Level Cloud Scheme and Its Tentative Application in a General Circulation Model

1. Introduction Clouds are active factors in the climate system, and have significant influences on the global hydrolog- ical and thermal budgets. More and more the climate model developers and researchers have realized the im- portance to appropriately describe the interactions be- tween cloud and radiation in the atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM). It is well known that cloud is one of the contributing factors to the uncertainties in the simulation of climate by AGCM. Especiall…     

Numerical experiments with a one-dimensional higher order turbulence model: Simulation of the Wangara Day 33 case

A one-dimensional stratocumulus model is developed and incorporated into a cloud/mesoscale model to simulate the evolution of the marine stratocumulus-capped mixed layer. This paper describes the formulation of the higher-order turbulence model. In a companion paper (Chen and Cotton, 1983), the formulation of the atmospheric radiation model, the partial condensation and the cloud fractional parameterization are described. The second-order moments of this model are partially diagnosed. In order to close the system, the parameterization for the third-order moments given by Zeman and Lumley (1976) is adopted and is generalized to include total water and cloud water. A new scheme to parameterize the skewness terms is proposed in order to satisfy the enforced realizability. Those skewness terms are used to close the third-order moments. In this paper, experiments are carried out to test the turbulence model by using the Wangara Day 33 data, which represents a ‘dry’ case study. Sensitivity experiments using the turbulence length scale parameterizations formulated by Andréet al. (1978) and Sun and Ogura (1980) are reformed and are compared.     

一个统计低云方案及其在大气环流模式中应用初探

文中利用湍流耗散特征时间尺度和湍流垂直扩散系数对湍流二阶距进行参数化 ,将一个统计云方案与一阶湍流闭合方案进行耦合。基于数值试验 ,在不同的相对湿度、温度垂直梯度、以及湍流耗散特征时间尺度条件下 ,对该方案云量模拟能力的分析 ,发现该统计云方案对其采用的参数及湍流耗散特征时间尺度敏感。基于该数值模拟分析 ,修改了该统计云方案 ,并结合其他边界层积云参数化方案 ,给出了一个基于统计的低云参数化方案。将其初步应用于NCARCCM 3后发现 :该方案可以显著增强CCM 3对副热带低云的模拟能力 ,可以合理地模拟出大洋东部大陆西岸冷海域低云量大值中心 ,显示出该方案对于改进大气环流模式低云参数化具有潜在的应用前景。     

Intercomparison of Three- and one-Dimensional Model Simulations and Aircraft Observations of Stratocumulus

As part of the EUropean Cloud REsolving Modelling (EUCREM) model intercomparison project we compared the properties and development of stratocumulus as revealed by actual observations and as derived from two types of models, namely three-dimensional Large Eddy Simulations (LES) and one-dimensional Single Column Models (SCMs). The turbulence, microphysical and radiation properties were obtained from observations made in solid stratocumulus during the third flight of the first 'Lagrangian' experiment of the Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX). The goal of the intercomparison was to study the turbulence and microphysical properties of a stratocumulus layer with specified initial and boundary conditions.The LES models predict an entrainment velocity which is significantly larger than estimated from observations. Because the observed value contains a large experimental uncertainty no definitive conclusions can be drawn from this. The LES modelled buoyancy flux agrees rather well with the observed values, which indicates that the intensity of the convection is modelled correctly. From LES it was concluded that the inclusion of drizzle had a small influence (about 10%) on the buoyancy flux. All SCMs predict a solid stratocumulus layer with the correct liquid water profile. However, the buoyancy flux profile is poorly represented in these models. From the comparison with observations it is clear that there is considerable uncertainty in the parametrization of drizzle in both SCM and LES.     

Numerical study of mesoscale cellular convection

Mesoscale cellular convections over the East China Sea during cold air outbreaks are simulated with a high-resolution numerical model. The model incorporates important physical processes involved in shallow convection, such as the exchange of heat and moisture between water and air; condensation; evaporation; and vertical turbulent transfer of heat, moisture, and momentum.The results show that open cells develop with aspect ratios as large as 14. The structure of the convection is examined in detail. The organized mesoscale circulation is responsible for breaking up the initial stratus cloud deck and enhancing turbulence in the upward-moving area (especially inside cumulus clouds). However, it is found that the heat flux contributed by MCC's themselves is much smaller than the eddy heat flux.     

Resolved Versus Parametrized Boundary-Layer Plumes. Part III: Derivation of a Statistical Scheme for Cumulus Clouds

We present a statistical cloud scheme based on the subgrid-scale distribution of the saturation deficit. When analyzed in large-eddy simulations (LES) of a typical cloudy convective boundary layer, this distribution is shown to be bimodal and reasonably well-fitted by a bi-Gaussian distribution. Thanks to a tracer-based conditional sampling of coherent structures of the convective boundary layer in LES, we demonstrate that one mode corresponds to plumes of buoyant air arising from the surface, and the second to their environment, both within the cloud and sub-cloud layers. According to this analysis, we propose a cloud scheme based on a bi-Gaussian distribution of the saturation deficit, which can be easily coupled with any mass-flux scheme that discriminates buoyant plumes from their environment. For that, the standard deviations of the two Gaussian modes are parametrized starting from the top-hat distribution of the subgrid-scale thermodynamic variables given by the mass-flux scheme. Single-column model simulations of continental and maritime case studies show that this approach allows us to capture the vertical and temporal variations of the cloud cover and liquid water.     

利用TWP-ICE试验资料对比两种边界层参数化方案

利用高分辨率WRF单气柱模式,选取了两种边界层参数化方案(YSU,MYJ),对TWP-ICE(Tropical Warm Pool International Cloud Experiment)试验期间的个例进行数值模拟,比较了两种方案对边界层结构、云和降水模拟的影响。结果表明:季风活跃期,YSU方案模拟的湍流交换系数较小,湍流混合偏弱,边界层内热通量偏小,使地表热量和水汽不易向上输送,水汽含量在近地表明显偏多,而在边界层及其以上大气层具有显著的干偏差,因此该方案模拟的云中液态水和固态水含量偏低,云量偏少,降水率偏小;MYJ方案对于季风活跃期的边界层结构具有较好的模拟能力,其模拟的云和降水更为准确。季风抑制期,MYJ方案模拟的夜间边界层结构存在较大误差,这是因为该方案模拟的夜间湍流交换系数较大,湍流混合偏强,边界层内热通量偏大,模拟的位温和水汽混合比在边界层内随高度变化较小,而观测廓线在边界层内存在较大梯度。季风抑制期两种方案模拟的云和降水均比观测值偏多,方案之间的差异较小。     

A study on the transition mechanism of a stratus cloud into a warm sea fog using a single column model PAFOG coupled with WRF

The transition mechanism of stratus cloud into warm sea fog over the Yellow Sea near the western coastal area of the Korean Peninsula is investigated using numerical simulation with a 1D turbulence model, PAFOG, coupled with a 3D regional model, WRF. The coupled model system was run in the two approaches, Eulerian and Lagrangian. For the selected warm sea fog case, the model results in the Eulerian approach showed that the bottom of the stratus cloud was lowered by cooling of the air just below the cloud base by turbulent heat loss. The Lagrangian approach showed the lowering of the stratus cloud top, owing to the evaporation of cloud droplets in this region by the entrainment of warm and dry air above the cloud top. The sensitivity test to SST indicated that the timing of water vapor saturation just below the cloud base depended on the magnitude of the turbulent heat flux from the sea surface. The subsidence rate was found to be important: when the subsidence rate was set to be half of the prescribed value, neither the lowering of the stratus cloud top nor the bottom occurred and the model could not produce a fog.     

尺度自适应大气边界层参数化改进及其对一次海雾的数值模拟研究

大气边界层湍流运动是地球大气运动最重要的能量输送过程之一.当数值模式分辨率接近活跃含能湍涡长度尺度时,湍流运动被部分解析,被称为"灰色区域",传统的边界层方案不适合此时模式湍流问题的描述.为了提高模式边界层方案在包括"灰色区域"的不同网格尺度上的描述能力,适应不同分辨率模式的需要,在雷诺平均湍流理论基础上,修正Mell...     

A one-dimensional simulation of the stratocumulus-capped mixed layer

A marine stratocumulus model has been developed which has four major sub-models: (1) a one-dimensional version of the CSU cumulus model, (2) a partially-diagnostic higher-order turbulence model, (3) an atmospheric radiation model for both short-wave and long-wave radiation, and (4) a partial condensation scheme and cloud fractional parameterization. A set of numerical experiments have been performed to study the interactions among the turbulence, the long-wave radiation, the short-wave radiation, and the sub-grid condensation processes. The results indicate that surface sensible eddy heat flux and not radiative cooling is the major control on the rate of cloud-top entrainment. Cloud-top radiation cooling occurs principally within the upper part of the mixed layer. However, for the stratocumulus with numerous towers penetrated into the capping inversion, most of the long-wave radiation occurs within the capping inversion. It is found that cloud-top radiation cooling is balanced by turbulence transport of sensible heat from cloud-base levels.     

Improvement of the Mellor–Yamada–Nakanishi–Niino Planetary Boundary-Layer Scheme Based on Observational Data in China

The Mellor–Yamada–Nakanishi–Niino (MYNN) planetary boundary-layer (PBL) scheme is a second-order turbulence closure model that is an improved version of the Mellor–Yamada scheme based on large-eddy simulation data. It simulates PBL structure and evolution well, particularly over the ocean surface. However, when used with various underlying surfaces in China, the scheme overestimates the turbulent momentum flux and the sensible heat flux. Based on observations of surface fluxes in China, we attempt to improve the MYNN model by modifying the parameters and representation of the turbulence scale. Closure constants and empirical expressions in the diagnostic equation are chosen first, and an additional component of the turbulent heat flux is considered in the potential temperature prognostic equation to improve the surface heat-flux modelling. The modified MYNN scheme is incorporated into a three-dimensional mesoscale model and is evaluated using various underlying surface observations. Amelioration of the surface turbulent fluxes is confirmed at five observational sites in China over different land-use types.     

A Parameterization of Dry Thermals and Shallow Cumuli for Mesoscale Numerical Weather Prediction

For numerical weather prediction models and models resolving deep convection, shallow convective ascents are subgrid processes that are not parameterized by classical local turbulent schemes. The mass flux formulation of convective mixing is now largely accepted as an efficient approach for parameterizing the contribution of larger plumes in convective dry and cloudy boundary layers. We propose a new formulation of the EDMF scheme (for Eddy Diffusivity\Mass Flux) based on a single updraft that improves the representation of dry thermals and shallow convective clouds and conserves a correct representation of stratocumulus in mesoscale models. The definition of entrainment and detrainment in the dry part of the updraft is original, and is specified as proportional to the ratio of buoyancy to vertical velocity. In the cloudy part of the updraft, the classical buoyancy sorting approach is chosen. The main closure of the scheme is based on the mass flux near the surface, which is proportional to the sub-cloud layer convective velocity scale w _*. The link with the prognostic grid-scale cloud content and cloud cover and the projection on the non- conservative variables is processed by the cloud scheme. The validation of this new formulation using large-eddy simulations focused on showing the robustness of the scheme to represent three different boundary layer regimes. For dry convective cases, this parameterization enables a correct representation of the countergradient zone where the mass flux part represents the top entrainment (IHOP case). It can also handle the diurnal cycle of boundary-layer cumulus clouds (EUROCS\ARM) and conserve a realistic evolution of stratocumulus (EUROCS\FIRE).     

A GCSS Boundary-Layer Cloud Model Intercomparison Study Of The First Astex Lagrangian Experiment

Three single-column models (all with an explicit liquid water budget and compara-tively high vertical resolution) and three two-dimensional eddy-resolving models (including one with bin-resolved microphysics) are compared with observations from the first ASTEX Lagrangian experiment. This intercomparison was a part of the second GCSS boundary-layer cloud modelling workshop in August 1995.In the air column tracked during the first ASTEX Lagrangian experiment, a shallow subtropical drizzling stratocumulus-capped marine boundary layer deepens after two days into a cumulus capped boundary layer with patchy stratocumulus. The models are forced with time varying boundary conditions at the sea-surface and the capping inversion to simulate the changing environment of the air column.The models all predict the observed deepening and decoupling of the boundary layer quite well, with cumulus cloud evolution and thinning of the overlying stratocumulus. Thus these models all appear capable of predicting transitions between cloud and boundary-layer types with some skill. The models also produce realistic drizzle rates, but there are substantial quantitative differences in the cloud cover and liquid water path between models. The differences between the eddy-resolving model results are nearly as large as between the single column model results. The eddy resolving models give a more detailed picture of the boundary-layer evolution than the single-column models, but are still sensitive to the choice of microphysical and radiative parameterizations, sub-grid-scale turbulence models, and probably model resolution and dimensionality. One important example of the differences seen in these parameterizations is the absorption of solar radiation in a specified cloud layer, which varied by a factor of four between the model radiation parameterizations.     

A Physically-Based Scheme For The Urban Energy Budget In Atmospheric Models

An urban surface scheme for atmospheric mesoscale models ispresented. A generalization of local canyon geometry isdefined instead of the usual bare soil formulation currently usedto represent cities in atmospheric models. This allows refinement ofthe radiative budgets as well as momentum, turbulent heat and ground fluxes.The scheme is aimed to be as general as possible, in order to representany city in the world, for any time or weather condition(heat island cooling by night, urban wake, water evaporation after rainfalland snow effects).Two main parts of the scheme are validated against published data.Firstly, it is shown that the evolution of the model-predictedfluxes during a night with calm winds is satisfactory, considering both the longwave budget and the surface temperatures. Secondly, the original shortwave scheme is tested off-line and compared to the effective albedoof a canyon scale model. These two validations show that the radiative energy input to the urban surface model is realistic.Sensitivity tests of the model are performed for one-yearsimulation periods, for both oceanic and continental climates. The scheme has the ability to retrieve, without ad hoc assumptions, the diurnal hysteresis between the turbulent heat flux and ground heat flux. It reproduces the damping of the daytime turbulent heat flux by the heat storage flux observed in city centres. The latent heat flux is negligible on average,but can be large when short time scales are considered (especially afterrainfall). It also suggests that in densely built areas, domesticheating can overwhelm the net radiation, and supply a continuous turbulentheat flux towards the atmosphere. This becomes very important inwinter for continental climates. Finally, a comparison with a vegetation scheme shows that the suburban environment can be represented with a bare soil formulation for large temporal or spatial averages (typical of globalclimatic studies), but that a surface scheme dedicated to the urban surface is necessary when smaller scales are considered: town meteorological forecasts, mesoscale or local studies.     

A Sensitivity Study Of The Subtropical Ocean Surface Energy Balance To The Parameterization Of Precipitation From Stratocumulus Clouds

In the `First Lagrangian' of the Atlantic Stratocumulus Experiment(ASTEX), a cloudy air mass was tracked as it was advected by thetrade winds toward higher sea surface temperatures. In this study,a full diurnal cycle observed during this experiment is simulated andthe impact of the precipitation parameterization is examined. The modelwe use is the one dimensional version of the hydrostatic primitiveequation model MAR (Modéle Atmosphérique Régional) developed at the Université catholique de Louvain (UCL).It includes an E- turbulence closure, a wide-band formulationof the radiative transfer, and a parameterized microphysical schemeallowing partial condensation. The model realistically reproducesthe diurnal clearing of the cloud layer as well as the formation ofcumulus clouds under the stratocumulus deck. Nevertheless, as thesurface warms and the boundary layer becomes more convective,the simulation progressively differs from the observed evolution.Further experiments are carried out with different precipitationparameterizations commonly used in mesoscale modelsand general circulation models (GCMs).A strong sensitivity of the simulated liquid water path evolution isfound. The impact on the surface energy flux and the solar fluxreflected by the cloud is also examined. For both fluxes averagedover 24 hours, differences as large as 20 W m^-2 are obtainedbetween the various simulations. Low cloudiness covers large areasover the ocean and such errors on the reflected solar flux may stronglyaffect the Earth's radiative budget in GCM simulations. We estimatethat the impact on the globally averaged outgoing solar flux could beas large as 5 W m^-2. Furthermore, when atmospheric models arecoupled to ocean models, errors in the surface energy exchanges mayinduce significant drift in the simulated climate.     

Computation of vertical total energy fluxes in a moist atmosphere

This paper examines the computation of surface-level vertical fluxes of total energy in a moist atmosphere. A flux equation is derived which includes the enthalpy of water, the temperature dependence of the latent heat of condensation and variable moisture composition of air. The complete formulation requires keeping track of liquid water fluxes. However, if this is not possible, then the total energy flux is best approximated by neglecting the enthalpy of all net fluxes of water substance. An important finding is that sensible heat fluxes derived using a moist specific heat at constant pressure are not compatible with usual formulations of latent heat unless the net vapor flux is neglected.     

Modeling Marine Stratocumulus with a Detailed Microphysical Scheme

A one-dimensional 3rd-order turbulence closure model with size-resolved microphysics and radiative transfer has been developed for investigating aerosol and cloud interactions of the stratocumulus-topped marine boundary layer. A new method is presented for coupling between the dynamical model and the mierophysical model. This scheme allows the liquid water related correlations to be directly calculated rather than parameterized. On 21 April 2001, a marine stratocumulus was observed by the Caesar aircraft over the west Pacific Rim south of Japan during the 2001 APEX/ACE-Asia field measurements. This cloud is simulated by the model we present here. The model results show that the general features of the stratocumulus-topped marine boundary layer predicted by the model are in agreement with the measurements. A new onboard cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) counter provides not only total CCN number concentration (as the traditional CCN counters do at a certain supersaturation) but also the CCN size distribution information. Using these CCN data, model responses to different CCN initial concentrations are examined. The model results are consistent with both observations and expectations.The numerical results show that the cloud microphysieal properties are changed fundamentally by different initial CCN concentrations but the cloud liquid water content does not differ significantly. Different initial CCN loadings have large impacts on the evolution of cloud microstructure and radiation transfer while they have a modest effect on thermodynamics. Increased CCN concentration leads to significant decrease of cloud effective radius.