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The MJO Transition from Shallow to Deep Convection in CloudSat/CALIPSO Data and GISS GCM SimulationsThe relationship between convective penetration depth and tropospheric humidity is central to recent theories of the Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO). It has been suggested that general circulation models (GCMs) poorly simulate the MJO because they fail to gradually moisten the troposphere by shallow convection and simulate a slow transition to deep convection. CloudSat and Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) data are analyzed to document the variability of convection depth and its relation to water vapor during the MJO transition from shallow to deep convection and to constrain GCM cumulus parameterizations. Composites of cloud occurrence for 10MJO events show the following anticipatedMJO cloud structure: shallow and congestus clouds in advance of the peak, deep clouds near the peak, and upper-level anvils after the peak. Cirrus clouds are also frequent in advance of the peak. The Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EarthObserving System (EOS) (AMSR-E) columnwater vapor (CWV) increases by;5 mmduring the shallow- deep transition phase, consistent with the idea of moisture preconditioning. Echo-top height of clouds rooted in the boundary layer increases sharply with CWV, with large variability in depth when CWV is between;46 and 68 mm. International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project cloud classifications reproduce these climatological relationships but correctly identify congestus-dominated scenes only about half the time. A version of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies Model E2 (GISS-E2) GCM with strengthened entrainment and rain evaporation that produces MJO-like variability also reproduces the shallow-deep convection transition, including the large variability of cloud-top height at intermediate CWV values. The variability is due to small grid-scale relative humidity and lapse rate anomalies for similar values of CWV. 1.
Document ID
20140000878
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
DelGenio, Anthony G.
(NASA Goddard Inst. for Space Studies New York, NY, United States)
Chen, Yonghua
(Columbia Univ. New York, NY, United States)
Kim, Daehyun
(Columbia Univ. Palisades, NY, United States)
Yao, Mao-Sung
(Sigma Space Partners, LLC New York, NY, United States)
Date Acquired
February 25, 2014
Publication Date
April 24, 2013
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Climate
Volume: 25
Issue: 11
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN8945
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG12HP07C
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX10AU63A
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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