Response of Cumulus Clouds to Large-Scale Forcing Using the Arakawa-Schubert Cumulus Parameterization

Abstract

A cumulus parameterization scheme developed by Arakawa and Schubert was tested through a semiprognostic approach using two different datasets: one for a tropical cloud band, the other for tropical composite easterly wave disturbances. Both were observed in GARP (Global Atmospheric Research Program) Atlantic Tropical Experiment using a computational algorithm different from that of Lord. Also, an efficient software package from the International Mathematics and Statistics Library was used in determining the cloud mass flux at the cloud base level. The semiprognostic results indicate that the cloud heating and drying effects predicted by the Arakawa-Schubert scheme in both cases agree rather well with the observations. Also, the predicted cloud population in terms of cloud-base mass flux shows the prominent features as already revealed by other previous diagnostic studies in the tropical area. The Arakawa-Schubert scheme underestimates both condensation and evaporation rates substantially when compared with the cumulus ensemble model results for the cloud band case by Soong and Tao and another subsequent case by Tao. An inclusion of the downdraft effects associated with the evaporation of rainfall appears to alleviate this deficiency.