The Formation of Wider and Deeper Clouds as a Result of Cold-Pool Dynamics

• Published in: Journal of the atmospheric sciences 2014-08, Vol.71 (8), p.2842-2858
• Main Authors: Schlemmer, Linda, Hohenegger, Cathy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aggregation; Atmosphere; Atmospherics; Cloud development; Cloud formation; Cloud sizes; Clouds; Cold; Cold pools; Convection; Convective clouds; Diurnal cycle; Diurnal variations; Downdraft; Entrainment; Formations; Gravity; Gravity currents; Hoisting; Leading edges; Lifting; Meteorology; Moisture; Moisture effects; Parameterization; Parametrization; Patches (structures); Pools; Positive feedback; Precipitation; Rain; Rain formation; Simulation
• ISSN: 0022-4928; 1520-0469
• DOI: 10.1175/JAS-D-13-0170.1

This study investigates how precipitation-driven cold pools aid the formation of wider clouds that are essential for a transition from shallow to deep convection. In connection with a temperature depression and a depletion of moisture inside developing cold pools, an accumulation of moisture in moist patches around the cold pools is observed. Convective clouds are formed on top of these moist patches. Larger moist patches form with time supporting more and larger clouds. Moreover, enhanced vertical lifting along the leading edges of the gravity current triggered by the cold pool is found. The interplay of moisture aggregation and lifting eventually promotes the formation of wider clouds that are less affected by entrainment and become deeper. These mechanisms are corroborated in a series of cloud-resolving model simulations representing different atmospheric environments. A positive feedback is observed in that, in an atmosphere in which cloud and rain formation is facilitated, stronger downdrafts will form. These stronger downdrafts lead to a stronger modification of the moisture field, which in turn favors further cloud development. This effect is not only observed in the transition phase but also active in prolonging the peak time of precipitation in the later stages of the diurnal cycle. These findings are used to propose a simple way for incorporating the effect of cold pools on cloud sizes and thereby entrainment rate into parameterization schemes for convection. Comparison of this parameterization to the cloud-resolving modeling output gives promising results.