Large Eddy Simulation of Trade Wind Cumulus Clouds

J. W. M. Cuijpers Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, De Bilt, the Netherlands

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P. G. Duynkerke Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands

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Abstract

A large eddy simulation (LES) model, used for studying the dry convective boundary layer, has been extended with an equation for the total water specific humidity and a condensation scheme to simulate the partly cloudy convective boundary layer. A simulation has been made based on the observations gathered near Puerto Rico on 15 December 1972. Starting from a clear air situation, the model evolves to a situation with small cumulus clouds. Vertical profiles of variances and fluxes show satisfactory agreement with the experimental data. It will be shown that layer-averaged fluxes and variances within the cloud layer are related to the amount of cloud water.

Abstract

A large eddy simulation (LES) model, used for studying the dry convective boundary layer, has been extended with an equation for the total water specific humidity and a condensation scheme to simulate the partly cloudy convective boundary layer. A simulation has been made based on the observations gathered near Puerto Rico on 15 December 1972. Starting from a clear air situation, the model evolves to a situation with small cumulus clouds. Vertical profiles of variances and fluxes show satisfactory agreement with the experimental data. It will be shown that layer-averaged fluxes and variances within the cloud layer are related to the amount of cloud water.

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