Cloud Phase Simulation at High Latitudes in EAMv2: Evaluation using
CALIPSO Observations and Comparison with EAMv1
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.