P2.1
Numerical Simulations of Boundary Layer Marine Stratus: Diurnal Variability in Microphysics
Tomasz Sikora, DRI, Reno, NV; and S. K. Chai
Understanding of complex atmospheric dynamics and cloudiness due to interaction of the air, sea and land in coastal regions is important for improvement of the episodic and seasonal forecasting of coastal weather. The Coupled Ocean/Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS) is inaccurate in its predictions of cloud and rain water content, impairing predictability of diurnal variations in the microstructure of marine boundary layer stratus and stratocumulus clouds (MBS). Enhancement of the predictive capability of the model can be achieved by (1) tuning bulk microphysical schemes, (2) including explicit (binned) warm rain microphysics. Examination of the sensitivity of changes in the tunable parameters of the microphysical parameterization in COAMPS to prediction of cloud water, rain water, and the liquid water path (LWP) was conducted. Both nighttime and daytime observations from Dynamics and Chemistry of Marine Stratocumulus II (DYCOMS II) field experiment were utilized. Cloud model simulations with detailed microphysics was compared with the COAMPS model simulations. A cloud-resolving, anelastic, non-hydrostatic, Eulerian/semi-Lagrangian (EULAG) model was used to simulate microphysical evolution of MBS for purpose of comparison of bulk and explicit microphysical schemes.
Poster Session 2, Cloud Physics Poster Session II
Tuesday, 4 June 2002, 1:00 PM-4:00 PM
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