On the Importance of a Consistent Treatment of Prognostic Moisture Variables between Convective and Microphysical Parameterizations

Grell, E. D.; Bao, J. W.; Kingsmill, D. E.; Michelson, S. A.

doi:10.1175/mwr-d-17-0305.1

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On the Importance of a Consistent Treatment of Prognostic Moisture Variables between Convective and Microphysical Parameterizations

2018

By Grell, E. D. ; Bao, J. W. ; Kingsmill, D. E. ; ...

Source: Monthly Weather Review, 146(5), 1527-1548.

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Journal Title:

Monthly Weather Review

Personal Author:

Grell, E. D. ; Bao, J. W. ; Kingsmill, D. E. ; Michelson, S. A. ;

NOAA Program & Office:

OAR (Oceanic and Atmospheric Research) ; PSL (Physical Sciences Laboratory) ; ESRL (Earth System Research Laboratory) ; CIRES (Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences) ;

Description:

Analysis of WRF Model output from experiments using two double-moment microphysics schemes is carried out to demonstrate that there can be an inconsistency between the predicted mass and number concentrations when a single-moment convective parameterization is used together with a double-moment microphysics scheme. This inconsistency may arise because the grid-scale and subgrid-scale cloud schemes generally apply different levels of complexity to the parameterized microphysical processes. In particular, when a multimoment formulation is used in the microphysics scheme and other physical parameterizations modify only the mass-related moment while the values of the second (or higher) moment for individual hydrometeors remain unchanged, an unintended modification of the particle size distribution occurs. Simulated radar reflectivity is shown to be a valuable tool in diagnosing this inconsistency. In addition, potential ways to minimize the problem are explored by including number concentration calculations in the cumulus parameterization that are consistent with the assumptions of hydrometeor sizes in the microphysics parameterization. The results of this study indicate that it is physically preferable to unify microphysical assumptions between the grid-resolved and subgrid cloud parameterization schemes in weather and climate simulation models.

Source:

Monthly Weather Review, 146(5), 1527-1548.

DOI:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/mwr-d-17-0305.1

Document Type:

Journal Article ;

Funding:

Grant no. NA15OAR4590160 ;

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