A comparison of single column model simulations of summertime midlatitude continental convection

Eleven different single-column models (SCMs) and one cloud ensemble model (CEM) are driven by boundary conditions observed at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program southern Great Plains site for a 17 day period during the summer of 1995. Comparison of the model simulations reveals common signatures identifiable as products of errors in the boundary conditions. Intermodel differences in the simulated temperature, humidity, cloud, precipitation, and radiative fluxes reflect differences in model resolution or physical parameterizations, although sensitive dependence on initial conditions can also contribute to intermodel differences. All models perform well at times but poorly at others. Although none of the SCM simulations stands out as superior to the others, the simulation by the CEM is in several respects in better agreement with the observations than the simulations by the SCMs. Nudging of the simulated temperature and humidity toward observations generally improves the simulated cloud and radiation fields as well as the simulated temperature and humidity but degrades the precipitation simulation for models with large temperature and humidity biases without nudging. Although some of the intermodel differences have not been explained, others have been identified as model problems that can be or have been corrected as a result of the comparison.

[1]  Stephen J. Lord,et al.  Role of a Parameterized Ice-Phase Microphysics in an Axisymmetric, Nonhydrostatic Tropical Cyclone Model , 1984 .

[2]  Steven K. Krueger,et al.  SUMMARY OF PROGRESS AND MAIN ACTIONS / RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE NINTH MEETING OF THE GEWEX CLOUD SYSTEM STUDY ( GCSS , 2001 .

[3]  David A. Randall,et al.  Alternative methods for specification of observed forcing in single-column models and cloud system models , 1999 .

[4]  J. Curry,et al.  A parameterization of ice cloud optical properties for climate models , 1992 .

[5]  S. Esbensen,et al.  Determination of Bulk Properties of Tropical Cloud Clusters from Large-Scale Heat and Moisture Budgets , 1973 .

[6]  David A. Randall,et al.  Single-Column Models and Cloud Ensemble Models as Links between Observations and Climate Models , 1996 .

[7]  N. McFarlane,et al.  Sensitivity of Climate Simulations to the Parameterization of Cumulus Convection in the Canadian Climate Centre General Circulation Model , 1995, Data, Models and Analysis.

[8]  J. Hack,et al.  Description of the NCAR Community Climate Model (CCM1) , 1987 .

[9]  R. T. Cederwall,et al.  Estimation of Errors in Objectively Analyzed Fields and Sensitivity to Number and Spacing of Stations , 1997 .

[10]  S. Ghan,et al.  Application of cloud microphysics to NCAR community climate model , 1997 .

[11]  Gerald G. Mace,et al.  Assessment of Error in Synoptic-Scale Diagnostics Derived from Wind Profiler and Radiosonde Network Data , 1996 .

[12]  A. Robock,et al.  Diurnal asymmetry of climatic response to increased CO2 and aerosols: Forcings and feedbacks , 1995 .

[13]  Albert A. M. Holtslag,et al.  Local Versus Nonlocal Boundary-Layer Diffusion in a Global Climate Model , 1993 .

[14]  M. Tiedtke.  A Comprehensive Mass Flux Scheme for Cumulus Parameterization in Large-Scale Models , 1989 .

[15]  S. Moorthi,et al.  Relaxed Arakawa-Schubert - A parameterization of moist convection for general circulation models , 1992 .

[16]  James J. Hack,et al.  Response of Climate Simulation to a New Convective Parameterization in the National Center for Atmospheric Research Community Climate Model (CCM3) , 1998 .

[17]  P. Rowntree,et al.  A Mass Flux Convection Scheme with Representation of Cloud Ensemble Characteristics and Stability-Dependent Closure , 1990 .

[18]  J. Labraga,et al.  Design of a Nonsingular Level 2.5 Second-Order Closure Model for the Prediction of Atmospheric Turbulence , 1988 .

[19]  Roger Davies,et al.  A fast radiation parameterization for atmospheric circulation models , 1987 .

[20]  Stephen B. Fels,et al.  The simplified exchange method revisited: An accurate, rapid method for computation of infrared cooling rates and fluxes , 1991 .

[21]  Jimy Dudhia,et al.  The Importance of the Horizontal Advection of Hydrometeors in a Single-Column Model , 1998 .

[22]  Graeme L. Stephens,et al.  Radiation Profiles in Extended Water Clouds. II: Parameterization Schemes , 1978 .

[23]  J. Hack.  Parameterization of moist convection in the National Center for Atmospheric Research community climate model (CCM2) , 1994 .

[24]  H. D. Orville,et al.  Bulk Parameterization of the Snow Field in a Cloud Model , 1983 .

[25]  Kuan-Man Xu,et al.  Impact of Interactive Radiative Transfer on the Macroscopic Behavior of Cumulus Ensembles. Part I: Radiation Parameterization and Sensitivity Tests , 1995 .

[26]  David A. Randall,et al.  Explicit Simulation of Cumulus Ensembles with the GATE Phase III Data: Comparison with Observations , 1996 .

[27]  M. Chou,et al.  Technical report series on global modeling and data assimilation. Volume 3: An efficient thermal infrared radiation parameterization for use in general circulation models , 1994 .

[28]  James J. Hack,et al.  Sensitivity of the Simulated Climate to a Diagnostic Formulation for Cloud Liquid Water , 1998 .

[29]  J. Louis.  A parametric model of vertical eddy fluxes in the atmosphere , 1979 .

[30]  D. Randall,et al.  Explicit Simulation of Midlatitude Cumulus Ensembles: Comparison with ARM Data , 2000 .

[31]  J. Hack,et al.  Assessment of Solution Uncertainties in Single-Column Modeling Frameworks , 2000 .

[32]  A. Dalcher,et al.  A Simple Biosphere Model (SIB) for Use within General Circulation Models , 1986 .

[33]  R. Somerville,et al.  Diagnostic Modeling of the Indian Monsoon Onset. Part I: Model Description and Validation , 1991 .

[34]  N. McFarlane,et al.  A New Second-Order Turbulence Closure Scheme for the Planetary Boundary Layer , 1997 .

[35]  U. Lohmann,et al.  Comparing Different Cloud Schemes of a Single Column Model by Using Mesoscale Forcing and Nudging Technique , 1999 .

[36]  Q. Fu,et al.  Improvements of an ice-phase microphysics parameterization for use in numerical simulations of tropical convection , 1995 .

[37]  A. Betts,et al.  A new convective adjustment scheme. Part II: Single column tests using GATE wave, BOMEX, ATEX and arctic air‐mass data sets , 1986 .

[38]  D. Randall,et al.  A Revised Land Surface Parameterization (SiB2) for Atmospheric GCMS. Part I: Model Formulation , 1996 .

[39]  J. O'Brien,et al.  Alternative Solutions to the Classical Vertical Velocity Problem. , 1970 .

[40]  B. Lesht,et al.  Comparison of precipitable water vapor measurements obtained by microwave radiometry and radiosondes at the Southern Great ... , 1996 .

[41]  Minghua Zhang,et al.  Constrained Variational Analysis of Sounding Data Based on Column-Integrated Budgets of Mass, Heat, Moisture, and Momentum: Approach and Application to ARM Measurements. , 1997 .

[42]  Akio Arakawa,et al.  The parameterization of the planetary boundary layer in the UCLA general circulation model - Formulation and results , 1983 .

[43]  D. Randall,et al.  Liquid and Ice Cloud Microphysics in the CSU General Circulation Model , 1996 .

[44]  Leon D. Rotstayn,et al.  A physically based scheme for the treatment of stratiform clouds and precipitation in large‐scale models. I: Description and evaluation of the microphysical processes , 1997 .

[45]  S. Ghan,et al.  A Comparison of Three Different Modeling Strategies for Evaluating Cloud and Radiation Parameterizations , 1999 .

[46]  M. Claussen,et al.  The atmospheric general circulation model ECHAM-4: Model description and simulation of present-day climate , 1996 .

[47]  J. Katzfey,et al.  A Scheme for Calculation of the Liquid Fraction in Mixed-Phase Stratiform Clouds in Large-Scale Models , 2000 .

[48]  M. Blackburn,et al.  A GCSS model intercomparison for a tropical squall line observed during toga‐coare. II: Intercomparison of single‐column models and a cloud‐resolving model , 2000 .

[49]  Qiang Fu,et al.  Parameterization for Cloud Longwave Scattering for Use in Atmospheric Models , 1999 .

[50]  Garik Gutman,et al.  On Modeling Dynamics of Geobotanic State–Climate Interaction , 1986 .

[51]  David A. Randall,et al.  Liquid and Ice Cloud Microphysics in the CSU General Circulation Model. Part II: Impact on Cloudiness, the Earth's Radiation Budget, and the General Circulation of the Atmosphere , 1996 .

[52]  S. Schwartz,et al.  The Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program: Programmatic Background and Design of the Cloud and Radiation Test Bed , 1994 .

[53]  G. Collatz,et al.  A technique for determining the spatial and temporal distributions of surface fluxes of heat and moisture over the Southern Great Plains Cloud and Radiation Testbed , 1998 .

[54]  Steven K. Krueger,et al.  Numerical simulation of tropical cumulus clouds and their interaction with the subcloud layer , 1988 .

[55]  James J. Hack,et al.  Description of the NCAR Community Climate Model (CCM3). Technical note , 1996 .

[56]  R. Smith.  A scheme for predicting layer clouds and their water content in a general circulation model , 1990 .

[57]  F. Caracena,et al.  Analytic Approximation of Discrete Field Samples with Weighted Sums and the Gridless Computation of Field Derivatives. , 1987 .

[58]  Kuan-Man Xu,et al.  Evaluation of cloudiness parameterizations using a cumulus ensemble model , 1991 .

[59]  A. Slingo.  A GCM Parameterization for the Shortwave Radiative Properties of Water Clouds , 1989 .

[60]  Chang-Hoi Ho,et al.  Parameterizations for Cloud Overlapping and Shortwave Single-Scattering Properties for Use in General Circulation and Cloud Ensemble Models , 1998 .

[61]  M. H. Zhang,et al.  Objective Analysis of ARM IOP Data: Method and Sensitivity , 1999 .

[62]  Ulrike Lohmann,et al.  Design and performance of a new cloud microphysics scheme developed for the ECHAM general circulation model , 1996 .

[63]  J. Hansen,et al.  A parameterization for the absorption of solar radiation in the earth's atmosphere , 1974 .

[64]  Donald P. Garber,et al.  Cloud Properties Derived From GOES-7 for Spring 1994 ARM Intensive Observing Period Using Version 1.0.0 of ARM Satellite Data Analysis Program , 1995 .

[65]  D. Randall,et al.  Liquid and Ice Cloud Microphysics in the CSU General Circulation Model. Part 1: Model Description and Simulated Microphysical Processes , 1996 .

[66]  F. Guichard,et al.  A gcss model intercomparison for a tropical squall line observed during toga‐coare. I: Cloud‐resolving models , 2000 .

[67]  S. Barnes,et al.  A Technique for Maximizing Details in Numerical Weather Map Analysis , 1964 .

[68]  Y. Sud,et al.  Microphysics of Clouds with the Relaxed Arakawa–Schubert Scheme (McRAS). Part I: Design and Evaluation with GATE Phase III Data , 1999 .

[69]  P. Minnis,et al.  Cloud and radiative fields derived from GOES‐8 during SUCCESS and the ARM‐UAV spring 1996 flight series , 1998 .

[70]  M. Tiedtke,et al.  Representation of Clouds in Large-Scale Models , 1993 .

[71]  E. Roeckner,et al.  Sensitivity of a general circulation model to parameterizations of cloud–turbulence interactions in the atmospheric boundary layer , 1995 .

[72]  D. Randall,et al.  A cumulus parameterization with multiple cloud base levels , 1998 .

[73]  Y. Sud,et al.  Microphysics of Clouds with the Relaxed Arakawa-Schubert Scheme (McRAS). Part II: Implementation and Performance in GEOS II GCM , 1999 .

[74]  David A. Randall,et al.  A cumulus parameterization with a prognostic closure , 1998 .

[75]  W. Tao,et al.  GEWEX Cloud System Study (GCSS) Working Group 4: Precipitating Convective Cloud Systems , 1997 .