SGER: Participation in DYCOMS-II

University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus, Norman OK

Investigators

Abstract

This is a Small Grant for Exploratory Research to support participation in the DYCOMS-II project scheduled for July 2001. DYCOMS (Dynamics and Chemistry of Marine Stratocumulus) is a study of mixing processes in stratocumulus clouds in the marine boundary layer off the coast of California. The main objective is to obtain high-resolution aircraft data (using the NCAR C-130) on temperature, humidity, vertical air velocity, and cloud properties, that can be used for validating large-eddy simulations of the boundary layer. The ultimate goal is to improve the parameterization of cloud-top mixing processes in large-scale models of atmospheric circulation and climate. Dr. Lilly will participate in the planning and field work of DYCOMS and use the experiments as an opportunity to evaluate a theoretical model for entrainment mixing that he has recently developed. This study will complement the main DYCOMS plan, which is to reconcile the observations of turbulent mixing with large-eddy simulations.