Geometry and Synchronization in Precipitating Open Cells
Poster PDF
Authors
Jan Kazil — University of Colorado
Graham Feingold — Earth System Research Laboratory
Category
Cloud Properties
Description
Cloudy marine boundary-layer states derive their importance in the climate system from their different cloud fractions, albedos, and the associated effect on radiative forcing. Examples of cloudy marine boundary-layer states are closed cell convection, precipitating open cell convection, and shallow cumulus convection. The conditions required for the perpetuation of a given state or for a transition between two states and the involved mechanisms are not well understood. Here, the precipitating open-cell state and its decay into a shallow-cumulus like state under weak surface forcing are investigated, and a quantitative analysis of the geometry and synchronization of this state and of its decay is presented. It is found that the precipitating open-cell state can persist even if precipitation takes place on a grid with irregular geometry, while desynchronization of precipitation is associated with the decay of the open-cell state.
