Extended Abstract (84K)P1.54
Sensitivities of Cloud and Radiation to Changes in SST over the Tropical Eastern Pacific: Results from Cloud-Resolving Simulations
Donghai Wang, Hampton University, Hampton, VA; and E. Deckter, T. Wong, and B. A. Wielicki
The sensitivities of cloud and radiation to changes in sea surface temperature (SST) over the tropical eastern Pacific ocean were examined using cloud-resolving simulations of a deep tropical convective system during the 1998 El Nino event. A multi-scale nonhydrostatic Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) model, known as the Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS). This model was modified and used to simulate the cloud system for 10-day period. Sensitivity studies were performed using 3 different SST settings; a control SST case (Control), an elevated SST case (Control+2K), and a suppressed SST case (Control-2K). Preliminary results indicated that cloud amount/cover was negatively correlated to the SST values (i.e., decrease with increasing SST). It was also noted that the surface precipitation rate and the surface shortwave and longwave radiation were positively correlated to SST (e.g., increase with increasing SST). As a result of this positive correlation for both surface longwave and surface shortwave radiation, the net radiation at the surface remained largely unchanged. It was also found that as SST increased (decreased), values of sensible and latent heat flux also increased (decreased).
Poster Session 1, Tropical Cyclones, Large-scale Dynamics and Convection
Monday, 29 April 2002, 11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Previous paper Next paper