Size statistics of cumulus cloud populations in large-eddy simulations

Abstract

Cloud size distributions of shallow cumulus cloud populations are calculated using the large-eddy simulation (LES) approach. A range of different cases is simulated, and the results are compared to observations of real cloud populations. Accordingly, the same algorithm is applied as in observational studies using high-altitude photography or remote sensing. The cloud size density of the simulated cloud populations is described well by a power law at the smaller sizes. This scaling covers roughly one order of magnitude of cloud sizes, with a power-law exponent of - 1.70, which is comparable to exponents found in observational studies. A sensitivity test for the resolution suggests that the scaling continues at sizes smaller than the standard grid spacing. In contrast, on the other end, the scaling region is bounded by a distinct scale break. When the cloud size is nondimensionalized by the scale break size, the cloud size densities of all cases collapse. This corroborates the idea of a universal description for the whole cloud size density, with the scale break size as the only variable. The intermediate dominating size in the cloud fraction and mass flux decompositions is directly related to the presence of the scale break in the cloud size density. Despite their large number, the smallest clouds contribute very little to the total vertical mass transport. The intermediate size of the dominating clouds in the cloud fraction and mass flux is insensitive to the resolution of LES. © 2003 American Meteorological Society.