The added value of large-eddy and storm-resolving models for simulating clouds and precipitation

Author(s): Bjorn Stevens, Claudia Acquistapace, Akio Hansen, Rieke Heinze, Carolin Klinger, Daniel Klocke, Harald Rybka, Wiebke Schubotz, Julia Windmiller, Panagiotis Adamidis, Ioanna Arka, Vasileios Barlakas, Joachim Biercamp, Matthias Brueck, Sebastian Brune, Stefan A. Buehler, Ulrike Burkhardt, Guido Cioni, Montserrat Costa-Surós, Susanne Crewell, Traute Crüger, Hartwig Deneke, Petra Friederichs, Cintia Carbajal Henken, Cathy Hohenegger, Marek Jacob, Fabian Jakub, Norbert Kalthoff, Martin Köhler, Thirza W. van LAAR, Puxi Li, Ulrich Löhnert, Andreas Macke, Nils Madenach, Bernhard Mayer, Christine Nam, Ann Kristin Naumann, Karsten Peters, Stefan Poll, Johannes Quaas, Niklas Röber, Nicolas Rochetin, Leonhard Scheck, Vera Schemann, Sabrina Schnitt, Axel Seifert, Fabian Senf, Metodija Shapkalijevski, Clemens Simmer, Shweta Singh, Odran Sourdeval, Dela Spickermann, Johan Strandgren, Octave Tessiot, Nikki Vercauteren, Jessica Vial, Aiko Voigt, Günter Zängl
Abstract: More than one hundred days were simulated over very large domains with fine (0.156 km to 2.5 km) grid spacing for realistic conditions to test the hypothesis that storm (kilometer) and large-eddy (hectometer) resolving simulations would provide an improved representation of clouds and precipitation in atmospheric simulations. At scales that resolve convective storms (storm-resolving for short), the vertical velocity variance becomes resolved and a better physical basis is achieved for representing clouds and precipitation. Similarly to past studies we found an improved representation of precipitation at kilometer scales, as compared to models with parameterized convection. The main precipitation features (location, diurnal cycle and spatial propagation) are well captured already at kilometer scales, and refining resolution to hectometer scales does not substantially change the simulations in these respects. It does, however, lead to a reduction in the precipitation on the time-scales considered – most notably over the ocean in the tropics. Changes in the distribution of precipitation, with less frequent extremes are also found in simulations incorporating hectometer scales. Hectometer scales appear to be more important for the representation of clouds, and make it possible to capture many important aspects of the cloud field, from the vertical distribution of cloud cover, to the distribution of cloud sizes, and to the diel (daily) cycle. Qualitative improvements, particularly in the ability to differentiate cumulus from stratiform clouds, are seen when one reduces the grid spacing from kilometer to hectometer scales. At the hectometer scale new challenges arise, but the similarity of observed and simulated scales, and the more direct connection between the circulation and the unconstrained degrees of freedom make these challenges less daunting. This quality, combined with already improved simulation as compared to more parameterized models, underpins our conviction that the use and further development of storm-resolving models offers exciting opportunities for advancing understanding of climate and climate change.
Organisation(s): Department of Meteorology and Geophysics
External organisation(s): Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie, Universität zu Köln, Universität Hamburg, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Meteorological Service of Germany, Deutsches Klimarechenzentrum GmbH, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Leibniz-Institut für Troposphärenforschung, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Freie Universität Berlin (FU), Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, Chinese Meteorological Agency, LASG, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Universität Leipzig, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Laboratoire d'Optique Atmosphérique, Université Lille I - Sciences et Technologies, École Normale Supérieure, Paris , Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht - Zentrum für Material- und Küstenforschung
Journal: Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan
Volume: 98
Pages: 395-435
No. of pages: 41
ISSN: 0026-1165
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2151/jmsj.2020-021
Publication date: 2020
Peer reviewed: Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012: 105204 Climatology, 105205 Climate change, 105206 Meteorology
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Atmospheric Science
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 13 - Climate Action
Portal url: https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/208c206b-d11e-4936-8c89-079f721374b1

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