Development and Verification of a Physical Cloud-Moisture Model for Use in General Circulation Models

Abstract

A time dependent, three dimensional, large-scale cloud moisture model has been developed for the prediction of cloud cover, cloud liquid/ice water content (LWC/IWC), precipitation, specific humidity and temperature. Partial cloudiness is allowed to form when large-scale relative humidity is less than 100%. In the vertical, a 16-layer z-coordinate is adopted. The horizontal resolution is described by 48 equally-spaced longitudinal points and 38 Gaussian latitudes. The wind field is prescribed using the results from a general circulation model (GCM). Both liquid and ice phases are included in the model. The liquid phase processes consist of evaporation, condensation, auto conversion, and precipitation. The ice phase processes include heterogeneous nucleation to generate ice crystals, depositional growth to simulate Bergeron- Findeison's processes, sublimation to deplete ice crystals, and gravitational settling of ice crystals. The radiative transfer parameterization program is based on a broadband method and involves the transfer of infrared and solar radiation in clear and cloudy regions.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 31, 1991
Accession Number
ADA234751

Entities

People

  • J. L. Lee
  • K. N. Liou
  • S. C. Ou

Organizations

  • University of Utah

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Sensors
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Climate Change
  • Clouds
  • Condensation
  • Critical Temperature
  • Equations Of State
  • Geography
  • Glass Transition Temperature
  • Grids
  • Heat Energy
  • Latent Heat
  • Meteorology
  • Phase Transformations
  • Thermodynamics
  • Three Dimensional
  • Transition Temperature
  • Transitions

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Remote Sensing.
  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology
  • Polar and Arctic Studies

Technology Areas

  • Space