loading page

Cloud Phase Simulation at High Latitudes in EAMv2: Evaluation using CALIPSO Observations and Comparison with EAMv1
  • +4
  • Meng Zhang,
  • Shaocheng Xie,
  • Xiaohong Liu,
  • Wuyin Lin,
  • Xue Zheng,
  • Jean-Christophe Golaz,
  • Yuying Zhang
Meng Zhang
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Shaocheng Xie
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Author Profile
Xiaohong Liu
Texas A&M University
Author Profile
Wuyin Lin
Brookhaven National Laboratory (DOE)
Author Profile
Xue Zheng
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (DOE)
Author Profile
Jean-Christophe Golaz
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (DOE)
Author Profile
Yuying Zhang
Lawrence Livermore National Lab
Author Profile

Abstract

This study performs a comprehensive evaluation of the simulated cloud phase in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) atmosphere model version 2 (EAMv2) and version 1 (EAMv1). Enabled by the CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation) simulator, EAMv2 and EAMv1 predicted cloud phase is compared against the GCM-Oriented CALIPSO Cloud Product (CALIPSO-GOCCP) at high latitudes where mixed-phase clouds are prevalent. Our results indicate that the underestimation of cloud ice in simulated high-latitude mixed-phase clouds in EAMv1 has been significantly reduced in EAMv2. The increased ice clouds in the Arctic mainly result from the modification on the WBF (Wegner-Bergeron-Findeisen) process in EAMv2. The impact of the modified WBF process is moderately compensated by the low limit of cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC) in cloud microphysics and the new dCAPE_ULL trigger used in deep convection in EAMv2. Moreover, it is found that the new trigger largely contributes to the better cloud phase simulation over the Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea in the Arctic and the Southern Ocean where large errors are found in EAMv1. However, errors in simulated cloud phase in EAMv1, such as the overestimation of supercooled liquid clouds near the surface in both hemispheres and the underestimation of ice clouds over Antarctica, persist in EAMv2. This study highlights the impact of deep convection parameterizations, which has not been paid much attention, on high-latitude mixed-phase clouds, and the importance of continuous improvement of cloud microphysics in climate models for accurately representing mixed-phase clouds.