Cloud-resolving modeling by Xiaoqing Wu, Wojciech Grabowski and Mitchell Moncrieff faithfully reproduces the evolution among various types of GATE convective cloud systems in three spatial dimensions. Even shallow shear-parallel lines which are not well resolved are reproduced, demonstrating that large-scale variables (e.g., shear and forcing) are the key quantities. Also, for the first time, a squall line was shown to evolve spontaneously from a field of clouds. This is good news for deterministic parameterizations of organized cloud systems for GCMs.
