Nonrotating Convective Self-Aggregation in a Limited Area AGCM.

ABSTRACT: We present nonrotating simulations with the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) in a square limited area domain over uniform sea surface temperature. As in previous studies, convection spontaneously aggregates into humid clusters, driven by a combination of radiative and moisture-convective feedbacks. The aggregation is qualitatively independent of resolution, with horizontal grid spacing from 3 to 110 km, with both explicit and parameterized deep convection. A budget for the spatial variance of column moist static energy suggests that longwave radiative and surface flux feedbacks help establish aggregation, while the shortwave feedback contributes to its maintenance. Mechanism-denial experiments confirm that aggregation does not occur without

SUBMITTER: Arnold NP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5993223 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature