Two assumptions commonly applied in convection schemes—the diagnostic and quasi-equilibrium assumptions—imply that convective activity (e.g., convective precipitation) is controlled only by the large-scale (macrostate) environment at the time. In contrast, numerical experiments indicate a “memory” or dependence of convection also on its own previous activity whereby subgrid-scale (microstate) structures boost but are also boosted by convection. In this study we investigated this memory by comparing single-column model behavior in two idealized tests previously executed by a cloud-resolving model (CRM). Conventional convection schemes that employ the diagnostic assumption fail to reproduce the CRM behavior. The memory-capable org and LMDZ cold pool schemes partially capture the behavior, but fail to fully exhibit the strong reinforcing feedbacks implied by the CRM. Analysis of this failure suggests that it is because the CRM supports a linear (or superlinear) dependence of the subgrid structure growth rate on the precipitation rate, while the org scheme assumes a sublinear dependence. Among varying versions of the org scheme, the growth rate of the org variable representing subgrid structure is strongly associated with memory strength. These results demonstrate the importance of parameterizing convective memory, and the ability of idealized tests to reveal shortcomings of convection schemes and constrain model structural assumptions.

The elimination of rain evaporation in the planetary boundary layer (PBL) has been found to lead to convective self-aggregation (CSA) even without radiative feedback, but the precise mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain unclear. We conducted cloud-resolving simulations with two domain sizes and progressively reduced rain evaporation in the PBL. Surprisingly, CSA only occurred when rain evaporation was almost completely removed. The additional convective heating resulting from the reduction of evaporative cooling in the moist patch was found to be the trigger, thereafter a dry subsidence intrusion into the PBL in the dry patch takes over and sets CSA in motion. Temperature and moisture anomalies oppose each other in their buoyancy effects, hence explaining the need for almost total rain evaporation removal. We also found radiative cooling and not cold pools to be the leading cause for the comparative ease of CSA to take place in the larger domain.