Comments on “Preconditioning Deep Convection with Cumulus Congestus”

Abstract

he hypothesis that cumulus congestus clouds in the tropics moisten dry layers above the boundary layer and promote the formation of deep moist convection was tested by Hohenegger and Stevens. This comment asks whether their hypothesis is also true for cumulus congestus clouds and deep moist convection in the midlatitudes. This comment also requests clarification on how their expression for moisture convergence is calculated and used in their article, especially in light of previous studies showing that moisture flux convergence is a less-than-adequate diagnostic for convection initiation and that deep moist convection requires sufficient lift and instability, in addition to sufficient moisture.