Open AccessUse of cloud observations and mesoscale meteorology models to evaluate and improve cloud parameterizations. Final technical progress report, December 1, 1991--September 30, 1996
Author(s) -
Chris J. Walcek
Publication year - 1996
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/353381
Subject(s) - cloud cover , meteorology , cloud computing , environmental science , mesoscale meteorology , climate model , climatology , precipitation , cloud top , convection , cloud physics , atmospheric sciences , climate change , computer science , geography , geology , oceanography , operating system
The main goal of this research effort is to improve methods for calculating cloud cover within climate models. Cloud cover observations are being used with standard meteorological observations to improve the ability to diagnose cloud cover in climate models. Until now, cloud cover and heights have been diagnosed from the US Air force RTNEPH and 3DNEPH archive, although recent CART measurements are also being analyzed. Improved cloud cover formulations have been compared with existing climate model algorithms. Recently, the authors are also refining and validating an innovative Single Column Model (SCM) cumulus parameterization for calculating heating and moistening tendencies, and precipitation rates attributable to subgrid-scale convection not resolved by climate models. This SCM will be tested and evaluated using tropical convective measurements (GATE) and the author will also use incoming measurements from the Oklahoma ARM site. Further development and testing of this SCM could improve the ability to predict convective effects in climate models. The author will quantify the influence of convection on cloud cover using convective measures derived from this SCM. The output of this research will be a family of validated algorithms for assessing cloud cover under a variety of stable, unstable, continental or oceanic conditions, and an improved cumulus parameterization scheme