Observed Covariations in Boundary Layer and Cumulus Cloud-Layer Processes

Abstract

In this study, we examine variations in boundary layer processes spanning the shallow-to-deep cumulus transition. This is accomplished by differentiating boundary layer properties on the basis of convective outcomes, ranging from shallow to deep, as observed at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Southern Great Plains (SGP) site in Oklahoma. Doppler lidar, radar, and radiosonde data are combined to determine statistical differences in boundary layer and cloud-layer properties using a large sample (236) of days with a range of convective outcomes: shallow, congestus, and deep convection. In these analyses, the radar characterizes diurnal cloud depth, the lidar quantifies updraft and downdraft properties in the subcloud layer, and daily radiosonde data provide the convective inhibition (CIN). Combined, these data are used to test the hypothesis that deep convection occurs when the strength of the boundary layer turbulence (i.e., TKE) exceeds the strength of the energy barrier (i.e., CIN) at the top of the CBL. Results show that days with deep convective clouds have significantly lower vertical velocity variance and weaker updrafts within the subcloud layer. However, CIN values are also found to be significantly lower on deep convective days, allowing for these weaker updrafts to penetrate the energy barrier and reach the level of free convection. In contrast, shallow convective outcomes occur when the updrafts are strong in an absolute sense but are weak when compared with the strength of the energy barrier. These findings support the use of the CIN/TKE framework in parameterizing convection in coarse resolution models.