A representation of the collisional ice break-up process in the two-moment microphysics LIMA v1.0 scheme of Meso-NH

• Published in: Geoscientific Model Development 2018-10, Vol.11 (10), p.4269-4289
• Main Authors: Hoarau, Thomas, Pinty, Jean-Pierre, Barthe, Christelle
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerosols; Analysis; Atmospheric physics; Breakup; Case depth; Cloud physics; Cloud systems; Clouds; Computer simulation; Convection; Convective available potential energy; Crystals; Environmental aspects; Fragmentation; Fragments; Freezing; Graupel; Hail; Ice; Ice breakup; Ice crystals; Mathematical analysis; Meteorological research; Microphysics; Mixing ratio; Parameterization; Potential energy; Rain; Rainfall; Rainfall rate; Random numbers; Snow; Three dimensional models; Tropical climate; Tropical clouds
• ISSN: 1991-9603; 1991-959X; 1991-962X; 1991-9603; 1991-962X
• DOI: 10.5194/gmd-11-4269-2018

The paper describes a switchable parameterization of collisional ice break-up (CIBU), an ice multiplication process that fits in with the two-moment microphysical Liquid Ice Multiple Aerosols (LIMA) scheme. The LIMA scheme with three ice types (pristine cloud ice crystals, snow aggregates, and graupel hail) was developed in the cloud-resolving mesoscale model (Meso-NH). Here, the CIBU parameterization assumes that collisional break-up is mostly efficient for the small and fragile snow aggregate class of particles when they are hit by large, dense graupel particles. The increase of cloud ice number concentration depends on a prescribed number (or a random number) of fragments being produced per collision. This point is discussed and analytical expressions of the newly contributing CIBU terms in LIMA are given. The scheme is run in the cloud-resolving mesoscale model (Meso-NH) to simulate a first case of a three-dimensional deep convective event with heavy production of graupel. The consequence of dramatically changing the number of fragments produced per collision is investigated by examining the rainfall rates and the changes in small ice concentrations and mass mixing ratios. Many budgets of the ice phase are shown and the sensitivity of CIBU to the initial concentration of freezing nuclei is explored. The scheme is then tested for another deep convective case where, additionally, the convective available potential energy (CAPE) is varied. The results confirm the strong impact of CIBU with up to a 1000-fold increase in small ice concentrations, a reduction of the rainfall or precipitating area, and an invigoration of the convection with higher cloud tops. Finally, it is concluded that the efficiency of the ice crystal fragmentation needs to be tuned carefully. The proposed parameterization of CIBU is easy to implement in any two-moment microphysics scheme. It could be used in this form to simulate deep tropical cloud systems where anomalously high concentrations of small ice crystals are suspected.