Convection Self‐Aggregation in CNRM‐CM6‐1: Equilibrium and Transition Sensitivity to Surface Temperature

This study investigates the spontaneous self-aggregation of convection in non-rotating Radiative-Convective Equilibrium (RCE) simulations performed by CNRM-CM6-1 General Circulation Model within framework RCE Intercomparison Project (RCEMIP). In this model, level at equilibrium, as quantified metrics based on moisture or moist static energy, strongly increases with sea surface temperature (SST). As it gets warmer, troposphere drier, high cloud cover diminishes dry regions, top rises and their thickness low-cloud increases. At SSTs, large-scale circulation exhibits a shallow component, stronger than its deep counterpart. The transition towards has similar first 20-day phase for all SSTs 295–305-K range. It primarily involves radiative positive feedback processes. Then, above approximately 298 K, new, slower, higher levels occurs. is concomitant shift from top-heavy to more bottom-heavy circulation, strengthening reduced mobility convective aggregates. second mostly driven still longwave feedbacks, but also advective feedbacks driest regions. argued that boundary-layer cooling difference between which instrumental self-aggregation. sensitivity environmental air likely acts system.