Boundary layer controls on cumulus clouds at the ARM Southern Great Plains site
Authors
Daub, Brandon John
Issue Date
2021
Type
Thesis
Language
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
In this study we examine the boundary-layer controls on the shallow to deep cumulus transition. This is accomplished by differentiating boundary layer properties on the basis of convective outcomes, ranging from shallow to deep, as observed at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Southern Great Plains (SGP) site in Oklahoma, USA. The study combines Doppler lidar, radar, and radiosonde data to (1) examine the coevolution of boundary layer and cloud layer properties on a single day with a locally forced transition from shallow to deep convection, and (2) to determine statistical differences in boundary layer and cloud layer properties using a large sample (236) of days with a range of convective outcomes: shallow, congestus, and deep convection. In these analyses, the radar characterizes diurnal cloud depth, while the lidar is used to quantify updraft and downdraft properties in the subcloud layer. Daily radiosonde data provides the convective inhibition (CIN). Combined, these data are used to test the hypothesis that deep convection occurs when the column maximum boundary layer turbulence (i.e., TKE) exceeds the strength of the energy barrier (i.e., CIN) at the top of the CBL. Results show that days with deep convective clouds have significantly lower vertical velocity variance and weaker updrafts within the subcloud layer. However, CIN values are also found to be significantly lower on deep convective days, allowing for these weaker updrafts to penetrate the energy barrier and reach the level of free convection (LFC). In contrast, shallow convective outcomes occur when the updrafts are weak compared to the strength of the energy barrier. These findings support the use of the CIN/TKE framework in parameterizing convection in coarse resolution models.