Abstract
This chapter describes the sensitivity of aspects of global circulation model (GCM) performance to convective parametrization. This is a difficult task for a number of reasons. Firstly we have to define what is meant by “performance”. From a numerical weather forecasting perspective a model must produces a good estimate of the three dimensional structure and evolution of synoptic scale weather systems. On climate timescales the model should capture a realistic mean distribution of thermodynamic variables (including cloud cover), wind and surface precipitation. For coupled ocean-atmosphere modelling the surface fluxes of heat and water vapour need to be correctly simulated. Also the simulated variability of the atmosphere (from diurnal through to the intraseasonal and interannual timescale) needs to be well captured. Convective parametrization has a large influence upon all these areas and it is difficult to make definitive statements covering each area here. Secondly it is difficult to make definitive statements concerning the impact of convection schemes alone as other parametrization (for example the boundary-layer scheme), together with the methods used to simulate resolved motions, also have a impact upon the ability of atmospheric models to simulate the features of the general circulation referred to above. Even if identical convection schemes were used in two GCMs in which other processes were represented in a substantially different manner, it would not be certain that the distribution of precipitation simulated, together with other features of the mean climate, would be similar. However as will be illustrated below, some features of GCM simulations appear well correlated with certain aspects of convective parametrization.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Gregory, D. and Morris, D. (1996) The sensitivity of climate simulations to the specification of mixed phase clouds, Clim. Dyn. 12, 641–651
Tiedtke, M., Heckley, W.A. and Slingo, J. (1988) Tropical forecasting at ECMWF: The influence of physical parametrizations on the mean structure of forecasts and analyses, Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 114, 639–665
Tiedtke, M. (1989) A comprehensive mass flux scheme for cumulus parametrization in large-scale models, Mon. Wea. Rev. 117, 1779–1800
Gregory, D. and Rowntree, P.R. (1990) A mass flux convection scheme with representation of cloud ensemble characteristics and stability dependent closure, Mon. Wea. Rev. 118, 1483–1506
Slingo. A., Wilderspin. R.C. and Smith, R.N.B. (1989) The effect of improved physical parametrizations on simulations of cloudiness and the earth’s radiation budget, J. Geophys. Res., 94, 2281–2302
Hess. P.G., Battisti, D.S. and Rasch, P.J. (1993) The maintenance of the intertropical convergence zones and large-scale tropical circulation on a water covered earth. J. Atmos. Sci. 50, 691–713
Gates, W.L. (1992) AMIP: The Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project, Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 73, 1962–1970
Slingo, J.M., Sperber, K.R., Boyle, J.S., Ceron, J.-P., Dix, M., Dugas, B., Ebisuzaki, W., Fyfe, J., Gregory, D., Gueremy, J.-F., Hack, J., Harzallah, A., Inness, P., Kitoh, A., Lau, W.K.-M., McAvaney, B., Madden, R., Matthews. A., Palmer, T.N., Park, C.-K., Randall, D. and Renno, N. (1996) Intraseasonal oscillations in 15 atmospheric general Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 123, 1153–1183circulation models: results from an AMIP diagnostic subproject, Clim. Dyn. 12. 325–357
Inness, P.M. and Gregory, D. (1997) Aspects of the intraseasonal oscillation simulated by the Hadley Centre atmospheric model, accepted for publication in Clim. Dyn.
Gregory, D., Kershaw. R. and Inness, P.M. (1997) Parametrization of momentum transports by convection II: Tests in single column and general circulation models, Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 123, 1153–1183
Slingo, J.M., Blackburn, M., Betts, A., Brugge, R., Hoskins, B.J., Miller, M.J., Steenman-Clark, L. and Thurburn, J. (1994) Mean climate and transience in the tropics of the UGAMP GCM: Sensitivity to convective parametrization, Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 120, 881–922
McAvaney, B.J., Fraser, J.R., Hart, T.L., Rikus, L.J., Bourke, W.P., Naughton, M.J., and Mullenmeister, P. (1991) Circulation statistics from a non-dirumal seasonal simulation with the BMRC atmospheric GCM: R21L19, BMRC Research Report No. 29, Beaureau of Meteorology Research Centre, Melbourne, Australia
Nordeng, T.E. (1994) Extended versions of the convection parametrization scheme at ECMWF and their impact upon the mean climate and transient activity of the model in the tropics, Research Department Technical Memorandum’ No. 206, ECMWF, Shinfield Park, Reading, Berks, United Kingdom
Inness, P.M. and Gregory, D. (1994) Simulation of the Indian monsoon and tropical intraseasonal variability by a general circulation model, Climate Research Technical Note No. 52, Hadley Centre. Meteorological Office. London Road, Bracknell, Berks, United Kingdom
Ferranti, L., Molteni, F. and Palmer, T.N. (1994) Impact of localised tropical and extratropical SST anomalies in ensembles of seasonal GCM integrations, Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc. 120, 1613–1646
Tibaldi. S. and Molenti, F. (1990) On the operational predictability of blocking, Tellus 42A, 343–365
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1997 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Gregory, D. (1997). Sensitivity of General Circulation Model Performance to Convective Parametrization. In: Smith, R.K. (eds) The Physics and Parameterization of Moist Atmospheric Convection. NATO ASI Series, vol 505. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-8828-7_19
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-8828-7_19
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-4960-5
Online ISBN: 978-94-015-8828-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive