On the role of cloud adjustment time scale in simulating precipitation with Relaxed Arakawa–Schubert convection scheme

Abstract

The precipitation by Relaxed Arakawa–Schubert cumulus parameterization in a General Circulation Model (GCM) is sensitive to the choice of relaxation parameter or specified cloud adjustment time scale. In the present study, we examine sensitivity of simulated precipitation to the choice of cloud adjustment time scale (τadj) over different parts of the tropics using National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Seasonal Forecast Model (SFM) during June–September. The results show that a single specified value of τadj performs best only over a particular region and different values are preferred over different parts of the world. To find a relation between τadj and cloud depth (convective activity) we choose six regions over the tropics. Based on the observed relation between outgoing long-wave radiation and τadj, we propose a linear cloud-type dependent relaxation parameter to be used in the model. The simulations over most parts of the tropics show improved results due to this newly formulated cloud-type dependent relaxation parameter.