Adding Mesoscale Heating in E3SMv1 Improves MJO and Precipitation
Scientists added a mesoscale heating parameterization to E3SMv1 improving the MJO representation.
Background
The transport and mixing of heat and momentum throughout the atmosphere largely control the global circulation, and hence moisture and precipitation patterns. However, several transport processes occur on scales much smaller than a global circulation model (GCM) grid box, and therefore have to be parameterized. Improvements in the representation of subgrid heat and momentum transport can lead to significant model improvements in the representation of wind stresses, moisture and precipitation patterns, and organized modes of variability. In particular, convection is a large source of heat and momentum transport in the atmosphere, both on scales of individual convective plumes, as well as on scales of the order of 10–1,000 km (mesoscales).
The importance of convective organization on the global circulation has been recognized for more than three decades but parameterizations of the attendant processes are missing from GCMs. Contemporary convective parameterizations commonly use a convective plume model (or a spectrum of plumes). This is appropriate for unorganized convection. However, the assumption of a gap between the cumulus scale and the large-scale motion that underpins contemporary convective parameterizations fails to recognize mesoscale dynamics manifested in squall lines, mesoscale convective systems (MCS), mesoscale convective complexes (MCC), and multi-scale cloud systems associated with the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO). Over 50% of convective precipitation in the tropics is provided by MCS defined as heavily precipitating closely coupled cumulus ensembles embedded in the more moderately precipitating stratiform regions of these systems.
Science
Impact
As a result of the addition of mesoscale heating, the representation of the MJO in E3SMv1 has improved and the Kelvin wave spectra were enhanced. Additionally, tropical precipitation biases near the maritime continent and tropical west Pacific were reduced (Fig. 3). Since there are strong positive precipitation biases in these regions, which MCSP cannot fully correct, it is difficult to see the improvements MCSP makes by plotting biases against GPCP for both model configurations [i.e. E3SMv1 – GPCP and (E3SMv1 with MCSP) – GPCP]. Instead, Figure 3 shows E3SMv1 compared to observations [E3SMv1 – GPCP] and E3SMv1 with MCSP compared to E3SMv1 [MCSP – E3SMv1] to highlight the contribution MCSP makes in reducing biases in these areas.
Since the MJO is a dominant mode of sub-seasonal variability in the tropics and it impacts weather and extreme weather in many parts of the world via teleconnections, it is important to model the MJO accurately. The improved representation of the MJO in E3SMv1 is likely to lead to a more realistic representation of MJO impacts.
Publication
- Chen, C, J Richter, C Liu, M Moncrieff, Q Tang, W Lin, S Xie, and P Rasch. 2021. “Effects of Organized Convection Parameterization on the MJO and Precipitation in E3SMv1. Part I: Mesoscale Heating.” Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems 13(6). https://doi.org/10.1029/2020ms002401.
Funding
- U.S. Department of Energy support was provided by DOE’s Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER), Earth System Model Development Program Area and the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) project for its next generation of development (NGD) of atmospheric physics.
Contact
- Chih-Chieh (Jack) Chen, National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)