Numerical framework and performance of the new multiple-phase cloud microphysics scheme in RegCM4.5: precipitation, cloud microphysics, and cloud radiative effects
We implement and evaluate a new parameterization scheme for stratiform cloud microphysics and precipitation within regional climate model RegCM4. This new parameterization is based on a multiple-phase one-moment cloud microphysics scheme built upon the implicit numerical framework recently developed...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2016-07-01
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| Series: | Geoscientific Model Development |
| Online Access: | http://www.geosci-model-dev.net/9/2533/2016/gmd-9-2533-2016.pdf |
| _version_ | 1817967966826790912 |
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| author | R. Nogherotto A. M. Tompkins G. Giuliani E. Coppola F. Giorgi |
| author_facet | R. Nogherotto A. M. Tompkins G. Giuliani E. Coppola F. Giorgi |
| author_sort | R. Nogherotto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We implement and evaluate a new parameterization scheme for stratiform cloud
microphysics and precipitation within regional climate model RegCM4. This new
parameterization is based on a multiple-phase one-moment cloud microphysics
scheme built upon the implicit numerical framework recently developed and
implemented in the ECMWF operational forecasting model. The parameterization
solves five prognostic equations for water vapour, cloud liquid water, rain,
cloud ice, and snow mixing ratios. Compared to the pre-existing scheme, it
allows a proper treatment of mixed-phase clouds and a more physically
realistic representation of cloud microphysics and precipitation. Various
fields from a 10-year long integration of RegCM4 run in tropical band mode
with the new scheme are compared with their counterparts using the previous
cloud scheme and are evaluated against satellite observations. In addition,
an assessment using the Cloud Feedback Model Intercomparison Project (CFMIP)
Observational Simulator Package (COSP) for a 1-year sub-period provides
additional information for evaluating the cloud optical properties against
satellite data. The new microphysics parameterization yields an improved
simulation of cloud fields, and in particular it removes the overestimation
of upper level cloud characteristics of the previous scheme, increasing the
agreement with observations and leading to an amelioration of a long-standing
problem in the RegCM system. The vertical cloud profile produced by the new
scheme leads to a considerably improvement of the representation of the
longwave and shortwave components of the cloud radiative forcing. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T20:02:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2edcc3bb52bc4fb8bcc3bd0e14644c30 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1991-959X 1991-9603 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T20:02:49Z |
| publishDate | 2016-07-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geoscientific Model Development |
| spelling | doaj.art-2edcc3bb52bc4fb8bcc3bd0e14644c302022-12-22T02:32:09ZengCopernicus PublicationsGeoscientific Model Development1991-959X1991-96032016-07-01972533254710.5194/gmd-9-2533-2016Numerical framework and performance of the new multiple-phase cloud microphysics scheme in RegCM4.5: precipitation, cloud microphysics, and cloud radiative effectsR. Nogherotto0A. M. Tompkins1G. Giuliani2E. Coppola3F. Giorgi4The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics ICTP, Strada Costiera 11, 34151 Trieste, ItalyThe Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics ICTP, Strada Costiera 11, 34151 Trieste, ItalyThe Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics ICTP, Strada Costiera 11, 34151 Trieste, ItalyThe Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics ICTP, Strada Costiera 11, 34151 Trieste, ItalyThe Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics ICTP, Strada Costiera 11, 34151 Trieste, ItalyWe implement and evaluate a new parameterization scheme for stratiform cloud microphysics and precipitation within regional climate model RegCM4. This new parameterization is based on a multiple-phase one-moment cloud microphysics scheme built upon the implicit numerical framework recently developed and implemented in the ECMWF operational forecasting model. The parameterization solves five prognostic equations for water vapour, cloud liquid water, rain, cloud ice, and snow mixing ratios. Compared to the pre-existing scheme, it allows a proper treatment of mixed-phase clouds and a more physically realistic representation of cloud microphysics and precipitation. Various fields from a 10-year long integration of RegCM4 run in tropical band mode with the new scheme are compared with their counterparts using the previous cloud scheme and are evaluated against satellite observations. In addition, an assessment using the Cloud Feedback Model Intercomparison Project (CFMIP) Observational Simulator Package (COSP) for a 1-year sub-period provides additional information for evaluating the cloud optical properties against satellite data. The new microphysics parameterization yields an improved simulation of cloud fields, and in particular it removes the overestimation of upper level cloud characteristics of the previous scheme, increasing the agreement with observations and leading to an amelioration of a long-standing problem in the RegCM system. The vertical cloud profile produced by the new scheme leads to a considerably improvement of the representation of the longwave and shortwave components of the cloud radiative forcing.http://www.geosci-model-dev.net/9/2533/2016/gmd-9-2533-2016.pdf |
| spellingShingle | R. Nogherotto A. M. Tompkins G. Giuliani E. Coppola F. Giorgi Numerical framework and performance of the new multiple-phase cloud microphysics scheme in RegCM4.5: precipitation, cloud microphysics, and cloud radiative effects Geoscientific Model Development |
| title | Numerical framework and performance of the new multiple-phase cloud microphysics scheme in RegCM4.5: precipitation, cloud microphysics, and cloud radiative effects |
| title_full | Numerical framework and performance of the new multiple-phase cloud microphysics scheme in RegCM4.5: precipitation, cloud microphysics, and cloud radiative effects |
| title_fullStr | Numerical framework and performance of the new multiple-phase cloud microphysics scheme in RegCM4.5: precipitation, cloud microphysics, and cloud radiative effects |
| title_full_unstemmed | Numerical framework and performance of the new multiple-phase cloud microphysics scheme in RegCM4.5: precipitation, cloud microphysics, and cloud radiative effects |
| title_short | Numerical framework and performance of the new multiple-phase cloud microphysics scheme in RegCM4.5: precipitation, cloud microphysics, and cloud radiative effects |
| title_sort | numerical framework and performance of the new multiple phase cloud microphysics scheme in regcm4 5 precipitation cloud microphysics and cloud radiative effects |
| url | http://www.geosci-model-dev.net/9/2533/2016/gmd-9-2533-2016.pdf |
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