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Is Shallow Convection Sensitive to Environmental Heterogeneities?
Author(s) -
Kurowski Marcin J.,
Suselj Kay,
Grabowski Wojciech W.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2018gl080847
Subject(s) - homogenization (climate) , convection , homogeneous , cloud computing , geology , mechanics , large eddy simulation , geophysics , environmental science , meteorology , statistical physics , turbulence , physics , computer science , biodiversity , ecology , biology , operating system
The key assumption underlying convection parameterizations is that rising plumes develop in a horizontally homogeneous environment. With this in mind, we investigate the impact of environmental cloud layer heterogeneities on shallow convection using large‐eddy simulation that applies a driver‐piggybacker methodology. In this approach, two independent sets of thermodynamic variables (primary and secondary) are driven by one dynamics (coupled with the driver) to remove the impact of internal variability of the dynamical system considered. The two thermodynamic sets include either a realistic heterogeneous environment or an environment that is homogenized outside clouds. The key is that homogenization also excludes subsiding shells surrounding cumulus clouds. The results show a small impact of the homogenization on cloud field properties. The physical explanation highlights the role of the subsiding shell shielding a shallow cumulus cloud from its environment.