Convection self-aggregation in CNRM-CM6-1: equilibrium and transition
sensitivity to surface temperature
Abstract
This study investigates the spontaneous self-aggregation of convection
in non-rotating Radiative-Convective Equilibrium (RCE) simulations
performed by the CNRM-CM6-1 General Circulation Model within the
framework of the RCE Model Intercomparison Project (RCEMIP). In this
model, the level of convection self-aggregation at equilibrium, as
quantified by metrics based on moisture or moist static energy, strongly
increases with sea surface temperature (SST). As it gets warmer, the
troposphere gets drier, high cloud cover diminishes in dry regions, the
top of high cloud rises and their thickness increases in moist regions,
and low cloud cover increases. At high SSTs, the large-scale circulation
exhibits a shallow component, stronger than its deep counterpart. The
transition towards self-aggregation has a similar first 20-day phase for
all SSTs within the 295-305-K range. It primarily involves radiative
positive feedback processes. Then, for SSTs above approximately 300 K, a
new, slower, transition towards higher levels of self-aggregation
occurs. It is concomitant with a shift from a top-heavy to a more
bottom-heavy large-scale circulation, a strengthening of the shallow
circulation and a reduced mobility of convective aggregates. This second
transition is mostly driven by the dry regions, still involves longwave
radiative positive feedbacks, but also advective positive feedbacks in
the driest regions. It is argued that boundary-layer radiative cooling
difference between moist and dry regions, which is stronger at high
SSTs, is instrumental in this second phase of self-aggregation. The
sensitivity of deep convection to environmental dry air also likely acts
as a positive feedback on the system.