Wednesday, 16 January 2002: 3:30 PM
Examining model sensitivities to cloud microphysics using a single-column model, NCEP forecasts and ARM data
We have investigated the sensitivity of modeled radiative
fluxes to the specification of cloud microphysical parameterizations using a single-column model and measurements from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program. The single-column model was run for
the three month period of June-August, 2000 at the ARM Southern Great Plains site. The model was forced using 0-24 hour forecast products from the NCEP GSM. Several model runs were performed, each with a different package of cloud microphysical parameterizations.
The temporal evolution of modeled cloud amount as well as surface radiative fluxes from a control run compare well with ARM measurements at the Southern Great Plains site. Our results indicate that surface and top-of-atmosphere radiative fluxes are sensitive
to the scheme used to specify the ice particle effective radius.
However, the sensitivity does not appear as strong as that found
in a previous study in the tropical western Pacific. We also found
that the inclusion of ice particle fallout can have a significant
effect on the amount and location of high cirrus clouds. A particularly
interesting finding from the model results was that the variance
of the modeled ice particle effective radius is considerably smaller
than that suggested by ARM cloud radar measurements. This was the
case for all four parameterizations of ice particle effective radius
that were tested. Our preliminary results suggest that this
underestimate of the ice particle effective radius variance can
have significant effects on the modeled radiative fluxes due to
the highly non-linear nature of cloud-radiation interactions.
At the meeting we will present quantitative results from SCM simulations.
Supplementary URL: