Statistical properties of cloud lifecycles in cloud-resolving models

Cloud Tracking in Cloud-Resolving Models

In recent years Cloud Resolving Models (CRMs) have become an increasingly important tool for the study of convective phenomena. CRMs should not be regarded as simply providing surrogates for observations; rather, they allow idealized but realistic simulations to be produced which provide a laboratory for the careful diagnostic analysis of generic convective systems. Such analysis is a distincti...

Cirrus Cloud Properties from a Cloud-Resolving Model Simulation Compared to Cloud Radar Observations

Cloud radar data collected at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program’s Southern Great Plains site were used to evaluate the properties of cirrus clouds that occurred in a cloud-resolving model (CRM) simulation of the 29-day summer 1997 intensive observation period (IOP). The simulation was ‘‘forced’’ by the large-scale advective temperature and water vapor tendencies, horizontal wi...

Cloud Resolving Modeling

One of the most promising methods to test the representation of cloud processes used in climate models is to use observations together with cloud-resolving models (CRMs). CRMs use more sophisticated and realistic representations of cloud microphysical processes, and they can reasonably well resolve the time evolution, structure, and life cycles of clouds and cloud systems (with sizes ranging fr...

Convective Cloud Distribution in a Cloud Resolving Model

Statistical properties of aerosol-cloud-precipitation interactions in South America

Given the complex interaction between aerosol, cloud, and atmospheric properties, it is difficult to extract their individual effects to observed rainfall amount. This research uses principle component analysis (PCA) that combines Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aerosol and cloud products, NCEP Reanalysis atmospheric products, and rainrate estimates from the Tropical Rainf...