Shallow convective closure in a spectral cumulus parameterization

Abstract

Abstract A shallow convective closure (shallow closure) was introduced in a spectral cumulus parameterization (spectral scheme), and the validity was evaluated using an atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) and Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project (AMIP) experiments. The spectral scheme with shallow closure improved model simulated climatology and variability as compared with the spectral scheme only. The shallow closure enhanced shallow convection, leading to an improvements in dry bias in the tropics and cold bias in the extratropics. The simulated interannual variabilities were comparable regardless of the shallow closure; however, intraseasonal variability was greatly improved with the shallow closure. This is because detrainment from shallow convection during development of the Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO) contributes to supplying moisture in organized convection, and the spectral scheme with shallow closure was able to simulate this contribution well.