Convection during DYNAMO: Cloud-Resolving Simulations and Radar Observations

Changes in the properties of convection and the thermodynamic and kinematic environment during the Dynamics of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) (DYNAMO) experiment are examined using a cloud-resolving model and radar observations. Three-dimensional simulations of convection are performed using the System for Atmospheric Modeling on a doubly-periodic domain at cloud-resolving resolution. Sensitivity tests with different microphysics parameterizations, resolutions, and forcing methods are compared to observations from the dual-polarimetric S-band (S-Pol) precipitation radar and Ka-band Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) zenith radar (KAZR). Particular attention is paid to the relationship between convection and free-tropospheric moisture during the MJO events.