Advanced two-moment bulk microphysics for global models. Part II: Global model solutions and aerosol-cloud interactions

A modified microphysics scheme is implemented in the Community Atmosphere Model, version 5 (CAM5). The new scheme features prognostic precipitation. The coupling between the microphysics and the rest of the model is modified to make it more flexible. Single-column tests show the new microphysics can simulate a constrained drizzling stratocumulus case. Substepping the cloud condensation (macrophysics) within a time step improves single-column results. Simulations of mixed-phase cases are strongly sensitive to ice nucleation. The new microphysics alters process rates in both single-column and global simulations, even at low (200 km) horizontal resolution. Thus, prognostic precipitation can be important, even in low-resolution simulations where advection of precipitation is not important. Accretion dominates as liquid water path increases in agreement with cloud-resolving model simulations and estimates from observations. The new microphysics with prognostic precipitation increases the ratio of accretion over autoconversion. The change in process rates appears to significantly reduce aerosol-cloud interactions and indirect radiative effects of anthropogenic aerosols by up to 33% (depending on substepping) to below 1 W m⁻² of cooling between simulations with preindustrial (1850) and present-day (2000) aerosol emissions.

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Author Gettelman, Andrew
Morrison, Hugh
Santos, Sean
Bogenschutz, Peter
Caldwell, P.
Publisher UCAR/NCAR - Library
Publication Date 2015-02-01T00:00:00
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) Not Assigned
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Topic Category geoscientificInformation
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Metadata Date 2023-08-18T19:06:20.667233
Metadata Record Identifier edu.ucar.opensky::articles:16502
Metadata Language eng; USA
Suggested Citation Gettelman, Andrew, Morrison, Hugh, Santos, Sean, Bogenschutz, Peter, Caldwell, P.. (2015). Advanced two-moment bulk microphysics for global models. Part II: Global model solutions and aerosol-cloud interactions. UCAR/NCAR - Library. http://n2t.net/ark:/85065/d7bp03zx. Accessed 25 March 2025.

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