Long‐term single‐column model intercomparison of diurnal cycle of precipitation over midlatitude and tropical land

General Circulation Models (GCMs) have for decades exhibited difficulties in modelling the diurnal cycle of precipitation (DCP). This issue can be related to inappropriate representation processes controlling sub-diurnal phenomena like convection. In this study, 11 single-column versions GCMs are used investigate interactions between convection and environmental conditions, that control nocturnal convections, transition from shallow deep on a time-scale. Long-term simulations performed over two continental land sites: Southern Great Plains (SGP) USA 12 summer months 2004 2015 Manacapuru site at central Amazon (MAO) Brazil full years 2014 2015. The analysis is done regimes: afternoon convective regime regime. Most models produce too early, likely due missing shallow-to-deep these models. At SGP, unified schemes better simulate onset time precipitation. MAO, heating peak much lower level compared with observation, indicating For precipitation, most all allow triggered above boundary layer. indicates importance model capability detect elevated simulating Sensitivity studies indicate (a) nudging variables towards observations has minor impact DCP, (b) treatment capture mid-level help (c) atmosphere other components climate system (e.g. land) also important DCP coupled These results provide long-term statistical insights which physical essential DCP.