Research Summaries

Back Improving our understanding of pressure perturbations in cumulus convection

Fiscal Year 2019
Division Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science
Department Meteorology
Investigator(s) Peters, John M.
Sponsor National Science Foundation (NSF)
Summary A major source of error in cumulus parameterizations is the over simplification of the role of pressure perturbations. The goal of this research therefore is to improve our basic understanding of how pressure perturbations affect M and vertical velocity (w) cumulus clouds, and to set the stage for the improved representation of these quantities in future parameterizations. This research will use a suite of idealized and large-eddy simulations to simulate clouds in a variety of environments. Clouds and cloud thermals will be comprehensively tracked and analyzed in these simulations to improve our understanding of the role of pressure perturbations. A simplified cloud core model will be constructed based on the insight gained from the analysis of simulations that will allow for the assessment of the relative importance of pressure perturbation effects on cloud properties, and for the determination of which of these effects should be included in parameterizations.
Keywords Convection Marine Clouds Meteorology weather forecasting
Publications Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal
Data Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal