Analysis of convective transport and parameter sensitivity in a single column version of the goddard earth observation system, version 5, general circulation model

Lesly E. Ott*, J. Bacmeister, S. Pawson, K. Pickering, G. Stenchikov, M. Suarez, H. Huntrieser, M. Loewenstein, J. Lopez, I. Xueref-Remy

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Convection strongly influences the distribution of atmospheric trace gases. General circulation models (GCMs) use convective mass fluxes calculated by parameterizations to transport gases, but the results are difficult to compare with trace gas observations because of differences in scale. The high resolution of cloud-resolving models (CRMs) facilitates direct comparison with aircraft observations. Averaged over a sufficient area, CRM results yield a validated product directly comparable to output from a single global model grid column. This study presents comparisons of vertical profiles of convective mass flux and trace gas mixing ratios derived from CRM and single column model (SCM) simulations of storms observed during three field campaigns. In all three cases, SCM simulations underpredicted convective mass flux relative to CRM simulations. As a result, the SCM simulations produced lower trace gas mixing ratios in the upper troposphere in two of the three storms than did the CRM simulations. The impact of parameter sensitivity in the moist physics schemes employed in the SCM has also been examined. Statistical techniques identified the most significant parameters influencing convective transport. Convective mass fluxes are shown to be strongly dependent on chosen parameter values. Results show that altered parameter settings can substantially improve the comparison between SCM and CRM convective mass flux. Upper tropospheric trace gas mixing ratios were also improved in two storms. In the remaining storm, the SCM representation of CO2 was not improved because of differences in entrainment and detrainment levels in the CRM and SCM simulations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)627-646
Number of pages20
JournalJournal of the Atmospheric Sciences
Volume66
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atmospheric Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Analysis of convective transport and parameter sensitivity in a single column version of the goddard earth observation system, version 5, general circulation model'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this