Combined analysis of observed and simulated convective and stratiform rain structures, convective dynamics, and microwave radiances on May 20th during MC3E

 
Poster PDF

Authors

Ann M. Fridlind — NASA - Goddard Institute for Space Studies
Di Wu — NASA
Toshihisa Matsui — Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center at University of Maryland
NASA GSFC — NASA GSFC
Andrew Ackerman — NASA - Goddard Institute for Space Studies
Kirk North — McGill University
Scott Matthew Collis — Argonne National Laboratory

Category

Cloud Properties

Description

We integrate analysis of an ensemble of mesoscale simulations of the storm event on May 20 during the Midlatitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment (MC3E) field campaign with ground- and satellite-based remote sensing observations. We first perform a consistent analysis of convective, stratiform, and anvil structures in simulated reflectivity fields and C-band scanning ARM precipitation radar (C-SAPR) gridded reflectivity throughout the event. We then place limited convective region wind vector observations derived from a three-point array of X-band scanning ARM precipitation radars (X-SAPR) and C-SAPR radars within the context of C-SAPR reflectivity-based structures. We compare the observations with comparably located structures within the simulations, with a focus on convective updraft and downdraft properties. We finally compare limited domain-wide snapshots of forward-simulated infrared brightness temperatures and microwave radiances with those observed using Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer - EOS (AMSR-E) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instruments using convective and stratiform partitioning based on infrared, microwave, and C-SAPR measurements. In each simulation ensemble member, we seek coherency of deviations from observational data sets that are linked to simulated microphysics and dynamics features.