scholarly journals Development of a radiative cloud parameterization scheme of stratocumulus and stratus clouds which includes the impact of CCN on cloud albedo

1994 ◽  
Author(s):  
W.R. Cotton
Keyword(s):  
Parameterization Scheme ◽  
Cloud Albedo ◽  
Stratus Clouds ◽  
Cloud Parameterization ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Impact of Gravity Waves on Marine Stratocumulus Variability

2012 ◽  
Vol 69 (12) ◽  
pp. 3633-3651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qingfang Jiang ◽  
Shouping Wang
Keyword(s):  
Gravity Waves ◽  
Vertical Motion ◽  
Liquid Water Path ◽  
Marine Stratocumulus ◽  
Large Eddy Simulation Model ◽  
Cloud Albedo ◽  
Eddy Simulation ◽  
Aerosol Number Concentration ◽  
Wave Induced ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The impact of gravity waves on marine stratocumulus is investigated using a large-eddy simulation model initialized with sounding profiles composited from the Variability of American Monsoon Systems (VAMOS) Ocean–Cloud–Atmosphere–Land Study Regional Experiment (VOCALS-Rex) aircraft measurements and forced by convergence or divergence that mimics mesoscale diurnal, semidiurnal, and quarter-diurnal waves. These simulations suggest that wave-induced vertical motion can dramatically modify the cloud albedo and morphology through nonlinear cloud–aerosol–precipitation–circulation–turbulence feedback. In general, wave-induced ascent tends to increase the liquid water path (LWP) and the cloud albedo. With a proper aerosol number concentration, the increase in the LWP leads to enhanced precipitation, which triggers or strengthens mesoscale circulations in the boundary layer and accelerates cloud cellularization. Precipitation also tends to create a decoupling structure by weakening the turbulence in the subcloud layer. Wave-induced descent decreases the cloud albedo by dissipating clouds and forcing a transition from overcast to scattered clouds or from closed to open cells. The overall effect of gravity waves on the cloud variability and morphology depends on the cloud property, aerosol concentration, and wave characteristics. In several simulations, a transition from closed to open cells occurs under the influence of gravity waves, implying that some of the pockets of clouds (POCs) observed over open oceans may be related to gravity wave activities.

scholarly journals The potential role of methanesulfonic acid (MSA) in aerosol formation and growth and the associated radiative forcings

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 3137-3160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna L. Hodshire ◽  
Pedro Campuzano-Jost ◽  
John K. Kodros ◽  
Betty Croft ◽  
Benjamin A. Nault ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sulfuric Acid ◽  
Methanesulfonic Acid ◽  
Aerosol Size Distribution ◽  
Size Distributions ◽  
Global Models ◽  
Cloud Albedo ◽  
Dms Oxidation ◽  
Aerosol Mass ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Model Measurement

Abstract. Atmospheric marine aerosol particles impact Earth's albedo and climate. These particles can be primary or secondary and come from a variety of sources, including sea salt, dissolved organic matter, volatile organic compounds, and sulfur-containing compounds. Dimethylsulfide (DMS) marine emissions contribute greatly to the global biogenic sulfur budget, and its oxidation products can contribute to aerosol mass, specifically as sulfuric acid and methanesulfonic acid (MSA). Further, sulfuric acid is a known nucleating compound, and MSA may be able to participate in nucleation when bases are available. As DMS emissions, and thus MSA and sulfuric acid from DMS oxidation, may have changed since pre-industrial times and may change in a warming climate, it is important to characterize and constrain the climate impacts of both species. Currently, global models that simulate aerosol size distributions include contributions of sulfate and sulfuric acid from DMS oxidation, but to our knowledge, global models typically neglect the impact of MSA on size distributions. In this study, we use the GEOS-Chem-TOMAS (GC-TOMAS) global aerosol microphysics model to determine the impact on aerosol size distributions and subsequent aerosol radiative effects from including MSA in the size-resolved portion of the model. The effective equilibrium vapor pressure of MSA is currently uncertain, and we use the Extended Aerosol Inorganics Model (E-AIM) to build a parameterization for GC-TOMAS of MSA's effective volatility as a function of temperature, relative humidity, and available gas-phase bases, allowing MSA to condense as an ideally nonvolatile or semivolatile species or too volatile to condense. We also present two limiting cases for MSA's volatility, assuming that MSA is always ideally nonvolatile (irreversible condensation) or that MSA is always ideally semivolatile (quasi-equilibrium condensation but still irreversible condensation). We further present simulations in which MSA participates in binary and ternary nucleation with the same efficacy as sulfuric acid whenever MSA is treated as ideally nonvolatile. When using the volatility parameterization described above (both with and without nucleation), including MSA in the model changes the global annual averages at 900 hPa of submicron aerosol mass by 1.2 %, N3 (number concentration of particles greater than 3 nm in diameter) by −3.9 % (non-nucleating) or 112.5 % (nucleating), N80 by 0.8 % (non-nucleating) or 2.1 % (nucleating), the cloud-albedo aerosol indirect effect (AIE) by −8.6 mW m−2 (non-nucleating) or −26 mW m−2 (nucleating), and the direct radiative effect (DRE) by −15 mW m−2 (non-nucleating) or −14 mW m−2 (nucleating). The sulfate and sulfuric acid from DMS oxidation produces 4–6 times more submicron mass than MSA does, leading to an ∼10 times stronger cooling effect in the DRE. But the changes in N80 are comparable between the contributions from MSA and from DMS-derived sulfate/sulfuric acid, leading to comparable changes in the cloud-albedo AIE. Model–measurement comparisons with the Heintzenberg et al. (2000) dataset over the Southern Ocean indicate that the default model has a missing source or sources of ultrafine particles: the cases in which MSA participates in nucleation (thus increasing ultrafine number) most closely match the Heintzenberg distributions, but we cannot conclude nucleation from MSA is the correct reason for improvement. Model–measurement comparisons with particle-phase MSA observed with a customized Aerodyne high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS) from the ATom campaign show that cases with the MSA volatility parameterizations (both with and without nucleation) tend to fit the measurements the best (as this is the first use of MSA measurements from ATom, we provide a detailed description of these measurements and their calibration). However, no one model sensitivity case shows the best model–measurement agreement for both Heintzenberg and the ATom campaigns. As there are uncertainties in both MSA's behavior (nucleation and condensation) and the DMS emissions inventory, further studies on both fronts are needed to better constrain MSA's past, current, and future impacts upon the global aerosol size distribution and radiative forcing.

An assessment of the impact of pollution on global cloud albedo

Tellus B ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 356-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Twomey ◽  
M. Piepgrass ◽  
T. L. Wolfe
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Albedo ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Sensitivities of Summertime Mesoscale Circulations in the Coastal Carolinas to Modifications of the Kain–Fritsch Cumulus Parameterization

2017 ◽  
Vol 145 (11) ◽  
pp. 4381-4399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron P. Sims ◽  
Kiran Alapaty ◽  
Sethu Raman
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Models ◽  
Deep Convection ◽  
Coastal Region ◽  
Turnover Time ◽  
Cumulus Parameterization ◽  
Parameterization Scheme ◽  
Subgrid Scale ◽  
Mesoscale Circulations ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
The Impact

Two mesoscale circulations, the Sandhills circulation and the sea breeze, influence the initiation of deep convection over the Sandhills and the coast in the Carolinas during the summer months. The interaction of these two circulations causes additional convection in this coastal region. Accurate representation of mesoscale convection is difficult as numerical models have problems with the prediction of the timing, amount, and location of precipitation. To address this issue, the authors have incorporated modifications to the Kain–Fritsch (KF) convective parameterization scheme and evaluated these mesoscale interactions using a high-resolution numerical model. The modifications include changes to the subgrid-scale cloud formulation, the convective turnover time scale, and the formulation of the updraft entrainment rates. The use of a grid-scaling adjustment parameter modulates the impact of the KF scheme as a function of the horizontal grid spacing used in a simulation. Results indicate that the impact of this modified cumulus parameterization scheme is more effective on domains with coarser grid sizes. Other results include a decrease in surface and near-surface temperatures in areas of deep convection (due to the inclusion of the effects of subgrid-scale clouds on the radiation), improvement in the timing of convection, and an increase in the strength of deep convection.

Investigation of the Surface and Circulation Impacts of Cloud-Brightening Geoengineering

2012 ◽  
Vol 25 (21) ◽  
pp. 7527-7543 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Baughman ◽  
A. Gnanadesikan ◽  
A. Degaetano ◽  
A. Adcroft
Keyword(s):  
Climate Model ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Vertical Wind Shear ◽  
Coupled Model ◽  
Walker Circulation ◽  
Cloud Albedo ◽  
Potential Index ◽  
Marine Stratus ◽  
The Impact

Projected increases in greenhouse gases have prompted serious discussion on geoengineering the climate system to counteract global climate change. Cloud albedo enhancement has been proposed as a feasible geoengineering approach, but previous research suggests undesirable consequences of globally uniform cloud brightening. The present study uses GFDL’s Climate Model version 2G (CM2G) global coupled model to simulate cloud albedo enhancement via increases in cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) to 1000 cm−3 targeted at the marine stratus deck of the Pacific Ocean, where persistent low clouds suggest a regional approach to cloud brightening. The impact of this regional geoengineering on global circulation and climate in the presence of a 1% annual increase of CO2 was investigated. Surface temperatures returned to near preindustrial levels over much of the globe with cloud modifications in place. In the first 40 years and over the 140-yr mean, significant cooling over the equatorial Pacific, continued Arctic warming, large precipitation changes over the western Pacific, and a westward compression and intensification of the Walker circulation were observed in response to cloud brightening. The cloud brightening caused a persistent La Niña condition associated with an increase in hurricane maximum potential intensity and genesis potential index, and decreased vertical wind shear between July and November in the tropical Atlantic, South China Sea, and to the east of Japan. Responses were similar with CCN = 500 cm−3.

scholarly journals Impact of Urban Surface Roughness Length Parameterization Scheme on Urban Atmospheric Environment Simulation

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meichun Cao ◽  
Zhaohui Lin
Keyword(s):  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Roughness Length ◽  
Urban Morphology ◽  
Atmospheric Environment ◽  
Urban Surface ◽  
Parameterization Scheme ◽  
Roughness Parameters ◽  
Surface Roughness Length ◽  
Environment Simulation ◽  
The Impact

In this paper, the impact of urban surface roughness lengthz0parameterization scheme on the atmospheric environment simulation over Beijing has been investigated through two sets of numerical experiments using the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with the Urban Canopy Model. For the control experiment (CTL), the urban surfacez0parameterization scheme used in UCM is the model default one. For another experiment (EXP), a newly developed urban surfacez0parameterization scheme is adopted, which takes into account the comprehensive effects of urban morphology. The comparison of the two sets of simulation results shows that all the roughness parameters computed from the EXP run are larger than those in the CTL run. The increased roughness parameters in the EXP run result in strengthened drag and blocking effects exerted by buildings, which lead to enhanced friction velocity, weakened wind speed in daytime, and boosted turbulent kinetic energy after sunset. Thermal variables (sensible heat flux and temperature) are much less sensitive toz0variations. In contrast with the CTL run, the EXP run reasonably simulates the observed nocturnal low-level jet. Besides, the EXP run-simulated land surface-atmosphere momentum and heat exchanges are also in better agreement with the observation.

scholarly journals The Impact of a Stochastic Parameterization Scheme on Climate Sensitivity in EC‐Earth

2019 ◽  
Vol 124 (23) ◽  
pp. 12726-12740 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Strommen ◽  
P. A. G. Watson ◽  
T. N. Palmer
Keyword(s):  
Climate Sensitivity ◽  
Parameterization Scheme ◽  
The Impact

Benefits of stochastic parameterizations in subseasonal to seasonal (S2S) forecasts 

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith Berner
Keyword(s):  
Climate Model ◽  
Systematic Errors ◽  
Parameterization Scheme ◽  
Model Errors ◽  
Physical Processes ◽  
Northward Propagation ◽  
Northern Hemispheric ◽  
Ensemble Systems ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Incorrect Information

<p>Recently, there has been much interest in issuing subseasonal to seasonal (S2S) forecasts, although their skill is often debated. In addition to large systematic errors, ensemble systems are often overconfident, i.e. have incorrect information about the uncertainty of a particular forecast. Stochastic parameterization schemes are used routinely to remedy the problem of overconfidence, but also have the potential to reduce systematic model errors. </p><p>Here, we study the impact of adding a stochastic parameterization scheme in coupled simulations with the climate model CESM.  Physical processes associated with S2S-predictability, like the Madden-Julian  Oscillation (MJO) and Northern Hemispheric blocking are analyzed. In the simulations with a stochastic parameterization scheme, the northward propagation of the MJO is captured better, leading to an improved MJO lifecycle. The impact on other atmospheric fields like precipitation and winds will be discussed. </p>

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