Intercomparison and interpretation of single-column model simulations of a nocturnal stratocumulus-topped marine boundary layer Article

Zhu, P, Bretherton, CS, Köhler, M et al. (2005). Intercomparison and interpretation of single-column model simulations of a nocturnal stratocumulus-topped marine boundary layer . MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW, 133(9), 2741-2758. 10.1175/MWR2997.1

cited authors

  • Zhu, P; Bretherton, CS; Köhler, M; Cheng, A; Chlond, A; Geng, Q; Austin, P; Golaz, JC; Lenderink, G; Lock, A; Stevens, B

authors

abstract

  • TeN single-column models (SCMs) from eight groups are used to simulate a nocturnal nonprecipitating marine stratocumulus-topped mixed layer as part of an intercomparison organized by the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment Cloud System Study, Working Group I. The case is idealized from observations from the Dynamics and Chemistry of Marine Stratocumulus II, Research Flight 1. SCM simulations with operational resolution are supplemented by high-resolution simulations and compared with observations and large-eddy simulations. All participating SCMs are able to maintain a sharp inversion and a mixed cloud-topped layer, although the moisture profiles show a slight gradient in the mixed layer and produce entrainment rates broadly consistent with observations, but the liquid water paths vary by a factor of 10 after only 1 h of simulation at both high and operational resolution. Sensitivity tests show insensitivity to activation of precipitation and shallow convection schemes in most models, as one would observationally expect for this case. © 2005 American Meteorological Society.

publication date

  • September 1, 2005

published in

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

start page

  • 2741

end page

  • 2758

volume

  • 133

issue

  • 9