An improved convection parameterization with detailed aerosol-cloud microphysics for a global model

Jadav, A., Waman, D., Pant, C. S., Patade, S., Gautam, M., et al. (2025). An improved convection parameterization with detailed aerosol-cloud microphysics for a global model. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, doi:https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-23-0175.1

Title An improved convection parameterization with detailed aerosol-cloud microphysics for a global model
Genre Article
Author(s) A. Jadav, D. Waman, C. S. Pant, S. Patade, M. Gautam, V. Phillips, Aaron R. Bansemer, D. Barahona, T. Storelmov
Abstract A new microphysical treatment that includes aerosol–cloud interactions and secondary ice production (SIP) mechanisms is implemented in the convection scheme of the Community Atmosphere Model, version 6 (CAM6). The approach is to embed a 1D Lagrangian parcel model in the bulk convective plume of the existing deep convection parameterization. Aerosol activation, growth processes including collision/coalescence, and three processes of SIP mechanisms, two of which are normally overlooked in atmospheric models, are represented in this embedded parcel model. These microphysical processes are treated with a hybrid bin/bulk scheme and a high spatial and temporal resolution for the integration of the embedded parcel in 1D, allowing vertical velocity to determine the microphysical evolution following the in-cloud motion during ascent. Simulations of an observed case (Midlatitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment) of a mesoscale convective system in Oklahoma, United States, with a single-column model (SCAM) version of CAM, are compared with aircraft in situ and ground-based observations of microphysical properties from the convection and precipitation. Results from the validation show the new microphysical scheme has a good representation of the ice initiation in the bulk convective plume, including the known and empirically quantified pathways of primary and secondary initiation, with benefits for the accuracy of properties of its supercooled cloud liquid. The sensitivity simulations and use of tagging tracers for the validated simulation confirm that the newly included SIP mechanisms are of paramount importance for convective microphysics and can be successfully treated in the global model.
Publication Title Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences
Publication Date Jan 1, 2025
Publisher's Version of Record https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-23-0175.1
OpenSky Citable URL https://n2t.net/ark:/85065/d7639v4k
OpenSky Listing View on OpenSky
MMM Affiliations DPM

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