Cloud-resolving and single-column simulations of a warm-frontal cloud system: Implications for the parameterization of layered clouds in GCMs

Abstract

A winter oceanic cyclonic cloud system was simulated by using both a cloud-resolving model (CRM) and two single-column models (SCMs) utilizing different approaches to parameterize layer clouds. When driven with advective forcing derived from the CRM, the SCMs can capture the general developments of the large-scale cloud field during the warm-frontal passage. However, the vertical cloud structures differed significantly among the models. Some of the differences in the model cloud structures can be attributed to the lack of, or inappropriateness of the parameterizations of some cloud microphysical processes and subgrid cloudiness in current GCM prognostic cloud schemes. The high resolution CRM results will be valuable in identifying such deficiencies in current GCM cloud schemes and in the future developments and calibrations of these schemes.