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Improving the Simulation of Tropical Precipitation in E3SMv3 through Enhancement of Convection Parameterization

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Abstract

Convective parameterization plays a critical role in the simulation of tropical precipitation in global climate models. Many biases in simulated tropical precipitation in both the climatological mean and variability can be traced to deficiencies in convection parameterization. In this project, we aimed at improving the simulation of tropical precipitation in E3SMv3 by enhancing the convection parameterization in the model. We implemented a convective microphysics scheme into E3SMv3 and incorporated the effect of large-scale vertical motion on convection. We further performed sensitivity tests of parameterization closure and investigated its effects on the simulation of ITCZ. Our analyses of the model simulations found that by incorporating the effect of large-scale motion on convection, the tropical variability was enhanced, resulting in improved Kelvin wave and westward propagating inertia-gravity wave. The implementation of convective microphysics in E3SMv3 improved the simulation of intraseasonal variability associated with MJO. Both the amplitude and eastward propagation of MJOs were much better simulated compared to the baseline model. More details will be presented at the science team meeting. On the other hand, improving the simulation of ITCZ is a much more complex issue. Revising the convection closure did not lead to marked improvement of the simulated ITCZ, unlike in the NCAR CESM. Further analysis found that the muted response of the simulated ITCZ to our changes of convection scheme was related to large moist biases above the PBL and dry biases below the PBL top south of the equator. This leads to the undesired triggering of convection south of the equator over the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in a double-ITCZ bias. This highlights the complex nature of interactions between model biases and convection.

Category
Model Uncertainties, Model Biases, and Fit-for-Purpose
Funding Program Area(s)
Additional Resources:
ALCC (ASCR Leadership Computing Challenge)
NERSC (National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center)