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Adaptive detrainment in a convective parametrization
Author(s) -
Derbyshire S. H.,
Maidens A. V.,
Milton S. F.,
Stratton R. A.,
Willett M. R.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
quarterly journal of the royal meteorological society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.744
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1477-870X
pISSN - 0035-9009
DOI - 10.1002/qj.875
Subject(s) - parametrization (atmospheric modeling) , convection , cloud computing , meteorology , scheme (mathematics) , physics , environmental science , computer science , mathematics , mathematical analysis , quantum mechanics , radiative transfer , operating system
Mass‐flux convection schemes continue to play key roles in large‐scale atmospheric modelling. Currently, however, the specification of detrainment seems a potential weakness. Using cloud‐resolving model results from the European Cloud Systems (EUROCS) humidity case, we consider how detrainment adapts to its environment and formulate a minimal‐complexity description of partial detrainment in convective cloud fields. This can be viewed as an approximation to the behaviour of a multi‐plume scheme. The algorithm is straightforwardly implemented within the Gregory–Rowntree convection scheme as an extension of its original partial‐detrainment scheme. Numerical weather prediction tests in the Met Office Unified Model show significant benefits in full‐model performance. © 2011 Crown Copyright, the Met Office. Published by JohnWiley & Sons Ltd.