Effects of Diurnal Variations on Tropical Equilibrium States: A Two-Dimensional Cloud-Resolving Modeling Study

Abstract

Effects of diurnal variations on tropical heat and water vapor equilibrium states are investigated based on hourly data from two-dimensional cloud-resolving simulations. The model is integrated for 40 days and the simulations reach equilibrium states in all experiments. The simulation with a time-invariant solar zenith angle produces a colder and drier equilibrium state than does the simulation with a diurnally varied solar zenith angle. The simulation with a diurnally varied sea surface temperature generates a colder equilibrium state than does the simulation with a time-invariant sea surface temperature. Mass-weighted mean temperature and precipitable water budgets are analyzed to explain the thermodynamic differences. The simulation with the time-invariant solar zenith angle produces less solar heating, more condensation, and consumes more moisture than the simulation with the diurnally varied solar zenith angle. The simulation with the diurnally varied sea surface temperature produces a colder temperature through less latent heating and more IR cooling than the simulation with the time-invariant sea surface temperature.