Modeling of a tropical squall line in two dimensions: sensitivity to radiation and comparison with a midlatitude case

Abstract

A two-dimensional cloud model is used to study a tropical oceanic squall-line system. The dynamical and microphysical structures of the simulated squall-line system and the impact of environmental wind profiles on these structures are presented. The influence of the microphysics treatment on cloud radiative properties and the sensitivty of this simulated system to radiation is also investigated. In addition, partitioned heat, moisture and water budgets, and two radiative transfer schemes are used to assess the role of anvil clouds on the simulated system and on the assumption used in a bulk parameterization for cloud radiative properties. The comparison with a midlatitude study is also made to show its climatic implications. -from Authors