Simulating an Evolving Mixed-Phase Cloud-topped Boundary Layer with SHOC (Simplified Higher-Order Closure)

Abstract:

We are using a cloud-resolving model, SAM (System for Atmospheric Modeling) to examine the sensitivity of our simulations of an evolving mixed-phase cloud-topped boundary layer during a cold-air outbreak over the North Atlantic Ocean to the representations of the SGS turbulence and cloudiness and of the microphysics. Our version of SAM includes SHOC (Simplified Higher-Order Closure, Bogenschutz and Krueger 2013) which combines several existing components: A prognostic SGS turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) equation, an assumed double-Gaussian PDF following Golaz et al. (2002), the diagnostic second-moment closure of Redelsperger and Sommeria (1986), the diagnostic closure for the third moment of vertical velocity by Canuto et al. (2001), and a turbulence length scale related to the SGS TKE (Teixeira and Cheinet 2004) and to eddy length scales.

Cold-air outbreaks typically produce an evolving cloud-topped boundary layer whose structure is influenced by strong surface fluxes of sensible and latent heat, mixed-phase microphysics, cloud-top radiative cooling, and cloud-top entrainment. By systematically varying the horizontal resolution from 1 to 100 km and comparing the results to a benchmark large-eddy simulation of the case, we will assess the ability of SHOC to represent this type of boundary layer.

The image shows the cloud water path from a large-eddy simulation of the CONSTRAIN case. The domain size is 64 km by 64 km. Such simulations are used as benchmarks for coarse-grid simulations that use SHOC.