Graeme Stephens (PI)
Colorado State University
stephens@atmos.colostate.edu

On the Use of A-Train Data in the Evaluation of Modeled Convection and Cloudiness

Though decades of work has been done to develop cloud and convection parameterizations for global circulation and climate prediction models, there does not as yet exist a comprehensive set of systematic observations against which these parameterizations can be evaluated. The same can be said of cloud resolving models, which have been extensively used to provide statistics for improvement of parameterizations in large-scale models, yet also include as-of-yet largely untested subgrid-scale cloud microphysical parameterizations. This proposal plans to address these issues in the following ways: • Develop an expanded suite of satellite simulator systems, evaluate these simulator systems against observations, and deliver them to the modeling community through GCSS-DIME.    • Develop statistical tools for analyzing simulated and actual satellite data. These tools will also be delivered to DIME. • Apply a selection of these simulators specifically to the GSFC cumulus ensemble model (GCE) to evaluate the performance of this model in simulation of tropical convection in a broad attempt to expand our understanding of the role of moist processes in climate and weather. • Support other modeling groups and other investigators who plan to use these simulators and related diagnostic tools as part of their respective studies.

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