A07: Impact of New Physics Parameterizations on MCS Simulation

Owned by Meng Zhang, created
Last updated: Jun 24, 2023
2 min read

Full Title

Investigating the impact of new physics parameterizations on the simulation of mesoscale convective systems in E3SM

First Author

  • Meng Zhang

  • zhang55@llnl.gov

All Authors

Meng Zhang, Shaocheng Xie, Zhe Feng, Wuyin Lin, Chris Terai, Ruby Leung, Chris Golaz, Qi Tang, Guang Zhang, Xiaoliang Song, Jiwen Fan, Yunpeng Shan, Jack Chen, and Yaga Richter

Topic

Atmosphere

Project

E3SM

Abstract

Mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) play an important role in modulating the global hydrological cycle, general circulation, and radiative energy budget. With several new cloud and convective physics parameterizations incorporated during the development of the next generation of Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM), it is essential to understand the impact of these newly developed physics schemes on the simulation of MCS properties. In this study, we evaluate the MCS properties simulated from the 0.25-degree high resolution E3SM atmosphere model version 2 (EAMv2) model, and test the model behavior change by including the new cloud microphysics scheme in deep convection, the Predicted Particle Properties (P3) cloud microphysics scheme, the multiscale coherent structure parameterization (MCSP), and the cloud base mass flux adjustment (Madj) treatment. Simulated MCS properties are compared with observations over the contiguous United States (CONUS) and tropics regions. The state-of-the-art PyFLEXTRKR tracking algorithm is used to track MCSs in both the model and observations. Our preliminary results show that MCS simulated in the default high resolution EAMv2 is very weak compared to the observation. Compared to the Indo-Pacific sector, EAMv2 has done a better job in simulating MCS precipitation over the CONUS. The impact of the new convective and cloud physics features on MCS varies in different regions. For example, the microphysics scheme in deep convection and MCSP have larger impacts on precipitation over the CONUS, but not over the Indo-Pacific region.

In-person

yes

Poster

 

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