Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

An Idealized Cloud-Resolving Framework for the Study of Midlatitude Diurnal Convection over Land

Linda Schlemmer Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

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Cathy Hohenegger Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington

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Jürg Schmidli Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

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Christopher S. Bretherton Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington

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Christoph Schär Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

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Print Publication:
01 May 2011
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/2010JAS3640.1
Page(s):
1041–1057
Restricted access

Abstract

This paper introduces an idealized cloud-resolving modeling (CRM) framework for the study of midlatitude diurnal convection over land. The framework is used to study the feedbacks among soil, boundary layer, and diurnal convection. It includes a setup with explicit convection and a full set of parameterizations. Predicted variables are constantly relaxed toward prescribed atmospheric profiles and soil conditions. The relaxation is weak in the lower troposphere and upper soil to allow the development of a realistic diurnal planetary boundary layer. The model is run to its own equilibrium (30 days).

The framework is able to produce a realistic timing of the diurnal cycle of convection. It also confirms the development of deeper convection in a more unstably stratified atmosphere.

With this relaxation method, the simulated “diurnal equilibrium convection” determines the humidity profile of the lower atmosphere, and the simulation becomes insensitive to the reference humidity profile. However, if a faster relaxation time is used in the lower troposphere, the convection and rainfall become much more sensitive to the reference humidity, consistent with previous studies.

Corresponding author address: Linda Schlemmer, Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland. E-mail: linda.schlemmer@env.ethz.ch

Abstract

This paper introduces an idealized cloud-resolving modeling (CRM) framework for the study of midlatitude diurnal convection over land. The framework is used to study the feedbacks among soil, boundary layer, and diurnal convection. It includes a setup with explicit convection and a full set of parameterizations. Predicted variables are constantly relaxed toward prescribed atmospheric profiles and soil conditions. The relaxation is weak in the lower troposphere and upper soil to allow the development of a realistic diurnal planetary boundary layer. The model is run to its own equilibrium (30 days).

The framework is able to produce a realistic timing of the diurnal cycle of convection. It also confirms the development of deeper convection in a more unstably stratified atmosphere.

With this relaxation method, the simulated “diurnal equilibrium convection” determines the humidity profile of the lower atmosphere, and the simulation becomes insensitive to the reference humidity profile. However, if a faster relaxation time is used in the lower troposphere, the convection and rainfall become much more sensitive to the reference humidity, consistent with previous studies.

Corresponding author address: Linda Schlemmer, Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland. E-mail: linda.schlemmer@env.ethz.ch
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