Choosing a Convection Scheme for ACME

Abstract

This poster will present an update on the ACME Convection Task. The goal of this task is to select a suitable convection scheme for ACME through objectively evaluating candidate convection schemes under various modeling frameworks in terms of their capability of simulating observed clouds, aerosols, and the hydrologic cycle. Progress has been made in adding the capability for ACME to run in short-range hindcast (i.e., CAPT) and single-column modes. This allows us to perform process-level tests, to efficiently evaluate the model (especially at high resolution), and to effectively utilize the DOE ARM field campaign data and other observations to aid the ACME development. Metrics and diagnostics have been developed specifically for the process-level evaluation of convection, to complement those developed from other task teams. The candidate convection schemes for ACME include the default deep convection scheme (ZM), UNICON, CLUBB (used as a shallow cloud scheme) along with MG2 microphysics and ZM, MG2 microphysics with ZM, and various modifications to ZM. These schemes have been successfully implemented into ACME and initial tests with them have been completed. Preliminary results on the simulated clouds and precipitation with these configurations will be shown at the meeting.