The scale dependence and structure of convergence fields preceding the initiation of deep convection

Abstract

Links between convergence and convection are poor in global models, and poor representation of convection is the source of many model biases in the tropics. State-of-the-art convection-permitting simulations allow us to analyze realistic convection statistically. The analysis of fractal dimension is used to show that in convection-permitting simulations (grid spacings 1.5, 4, and 12 km) of the West African monsoon, 50% of deep convective initiations occur in the near vicinity of low-level boundary layer convergence lines that are orientated along the mean wind. In these simulations, more than 80% of the initiations occur within large-scale (300 × 300 km) convergence, with some 20% in large-scale divergence, and almost all cases occur within local scale (60 × 60 km) convergence. The behavior alters in a simulation with a convection scheme and a grid spacing of 12 km; initiation is less frequent over convergence lines, and there is less dependency on high-magnitude low-level local convergence. Key Points Fifty percent of storms initiate along convergence lines Most initiations occur in large and local scale convergence Parameterized convection exhibits a weaker dependence on strong convergence ©2014. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.