Global and regional modeling of clouds and aerosols in the marine boundary layer during VOCALS: the VOCA Intercomparison

M. C Wyant; C. S Bretherton; R Wood; G. R Carmichael; A Clarke; J Fast; R George; W I Gustafson Jr; C Hannay; A Lauer; Y Lin; J.-J Morcrette; J Mulcahy; P. E Saide; S. N Spak; Q Yang

doi:10.5194/acpd-14-6537-2014

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Global and regional modeling of clouds and aerosols in the marine boundary layer during VOCALS: the VOCA Intercomparison

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Global and regional modeling of clouds and aerosols in the marine boundary layer during VOCALS: the VOCA Intercomparison

M. C Wyant, C. S Bretherton, R Wood, G. R Carmichael, A Clarke, J Fast, R George, W I Gustafson Jr, C Hannay, A Lauer, …

Atmospheric chemistry and physics discussions, Vol.14(5), pp.6537-6587

03/12/2014

DOI: 10.5194/acpd-14-6537-2014

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Abstract

A diverse collection of models are used to simulate the marine boundary layer in the Southeast Pacific region during the period of the October–November 2008 VOCALS REx field campaign. Regional models simulate the period continuously in boundary-forced free-running mode, while global forecast models and GCMs are run in forecast mode. The models are compared to extensive observations along a line at 20° S extending westward from the South American coast. Most of the models simulate cloud and aerosol characteristics and gradients across the region that are recognizably similar to observations, despite the complex interaction of processes involved in the problem, many of which are parameterized or poorly resolved. Some models simulate the regional low cloud cover well, though many models underestimate MBL depth near the coast. Most models qualitatively simulate the observed offshore gradients of SO2, sulfate aerosol, CCN concentration in the MBL, and the related gradient in cloud droplet concentrations, but there are large quantitative intermodel differences in both means and gradients of these quantities. Most models underestimate large CCN (at 0.1% supersaturation) in the MBL and free troposphere. The GCMs also have difficulty simulating coastal gradients in CCN and cloud droplet number concentration. The overall performance of the models demonstrates their potential utility in simulating aerosol-cloud interactions in the MBL, though quantitative estimation of aerosol-cloud interactions and aerosol indirect effects of MBL clouds with these models remains uncertain.

Details

Title: Subtitle: Global and regional modeling of clouds and aerosols in the marine boundary layer during VOCALS: the VOCA Intercomparison
Creators: M. C Wyant
C. S Bretherton
R Wood
G. R Carmichael
A Clarke
J Fast
R George
W I Gustafson Jr
C Hannay
A Lauer
Y Lin
J.-J Morcrette
J Mulcahy
P. E Saide
S. N Spak
Q Yang
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Atmospheric chemistry and physics discussions, Vol.14(5), pp.6537-6587
DOI: 10.5194/acpd-14-6537-2014
ISSN: 1680-7375
eISSN: 1680-7375
Language: English
Date published: 03/12/2014
Academic Unit: Civil and Environmental Engineering; Center for Global & Regional Environmental Research; Nursing; Public Policy Center (Archive); Chemical and Biochemical Engineering; School of Planning and Public Affairs
Record Identifier: 9984001094302771

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