The Effect of Convective Parameterizations on the Dynamics of General Circulation Models

Remote Sensing Systems, Santa Rosa CA

Investigators

Abstract

This exploratory research will focus on a set of experiments using the atmospheric component of the NCAR CCSM to test the behavior of the model using different parameterizations of deep convection. Annual integrations of the standard version of CCSM will be carried out, each run using one of the convective schemes: Zhang-McFarlane, Zhang-McFarlane + (includes physical triggers and closure modifications for convection), Arakawa-Schubert, Relaxed Arakawa-Schubert, and Prognostic Arakawa-Schubert. The work is important because it should provide a strong diagnostics underpinning to the CCSM project from a university based group engaged in dynamical diagnosis of observed climate variability. The results from this project will be useful in identifying the convection scheme that will be incorporated in the next version of the model, scheduled for early 2001.