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The Parameterization of Shallow Cumulus Convection

Zhu, P. and Albrecht, B.A., University of Miami
Twelfth Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Science Team Meeting

A successful representation of shallow cumulus convection in GCMs requires two parameterizations: one for calculating the subgrid fluxes of heat, moisture, and momentum; and the other for estimating the cloud cover and the associated cloud liquid water. Two common schemes used for these two parameterizations are the mass flux approach and the distribution approach such as SDM's (Sommeria, Deardorff, and Mellor) scheme, respectively. In this study, we verified the assumptions that lead to these schemes using LES data. The analyses indicate that the assumptions may not be appropriate for shallow cumulus convections, especially those over land when diurnal variation is significant. Based on the discussion, we propose a new mass flux framework that is different from the classic mass flux approach of using top-hat profile. The new scheme is expected to alleviate the problems associated with the old schemes since it can be applied to a broad range of situations. Under some specific conditions, the new scheme c

Note: This is the poster abstract presented at the meeting; an extended version was not provided by the author(s).