Statistics on High-Cloud Areas and Their Sensitivities to Cloud Microphysics Using Single-Cloud Experiments

Abstract

Abstract Statistics on high-altitude cloud areas associated with deep cumulus clouds and their sensitivities to cloud microphysics are studied in the framework of single-cloud experiments with an explicit cloud system–resolving model. A comprehensive six-category single-moment bulk cloud microphysics scheme is used to investigate parameter dependency. High-cloud areas are defined by the threshold values of the outgoing longwave radiation, and probability distribution functions of high-cloud areas are obtained. First, resolution dependencies on grid sizes of approximately 3.5, 7, and 14 km are examined. It is found that although quantitative differences are confirmed, diurnal variations in high-cloud covers are similarly captured by all three experiments conducted. The main focus of the sensitivity experiments of cloud microphysics is on the fall speed and number concentration, or mean radius, of ice particles. The results clearly show that the sum of snow and cloud ice amounts is closely related to high-cloud covers. Among the number of experiments conducted, one interesting result is that the intercept parameters of snow and graupel have opposite effects on high-cloud covers. As the intercept parameter of graupel increases, the graupel amount increases because of an increase in the accretion rate of cloud water by graupel, which results in a decrease in the amount of snow and hence a decrease in high-cloud covers. This implies that a greater production of graupel leads to an increase in precipitation efficiency.