A Physically Based Subgrid Parameterization for the Production and Maintenance of Mixed-Phase Clouds in a General Circulation Model

K. Furtado Met Office, Exeter, United Kingdom

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P. R. Field Met Office, Exeter, United Kingdom

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I. A. Boutle Met Office, Exeter, United Kingdom

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C. J. Morcrette Met Office, Exeter, United Kingdom

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J. M. Wilkinson Met Office, Exeter, United Kingdom

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Abstract

A physically based method for parameterizing the role of subgrid-scale turbulence in the production and maintenance of supercooled liquid water and mixed-phase clouds is presented. The approach used is to simplify the dynamics of supersaturation fluctuations to a stochastic differential equation that can be solved analytically, giving increments to the prognostic liquid cloud fraction and liquid water content fields in a general circulation model (GCM). Elsewhere, it has been demonstrated that the approach captures the properties of decameter-resolution large-eddy simulations of a turbulent mixed-phase environment. In this paper, it is shown that it can be implemented in a GCM, and the effects that this has on Southern Ocean biases and on Arctic stratus are investigated.

Corresponding author address: Kalli Furtado, Met Office, FitzRoy Rd., Exeter EX1 3PB, United Kingdom. E-mail: kalli.furtado@metoffice.gov.uk

Abstract

A physically based method for parameterizing the role of subgrid-scale turbulence in the production and maintenance of supercooled liquid water and mixed-phase clouds is presented. The approach used is to simplify the dynamics of supersaturation fluctuations to a stochastic differential equation that can be solved analytically, giving increments to the prognostic liquid cloud fraction and liquid water content fields in a general circulation model (GCM). Elsewhere, it has been demonstrated that the approach captures the properties of decameter-resolution large-eddy simulations of a turbulent mixed-phase environment. In this paper, it is shown that it can be implemented in a GCM, and the effects that this has on Southern Ocean biases and on Arctic stratus are investigated.

Corresponding author address: Kalli Furtado, Met Office, FitzRoy Rd., Exeter EX1 3PB, United Kingdom. E-mail: kalli.furtado@metoffice.gov.uk
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