P. Bechtold¹, E. Bazile², F. Guichard², P. Mascart¹, and E. Richard¹

¹ Laboratoire d'Aérologie, Observatoire Midi-Pyrenees, Toulouse, France
²Centre National de Recherches Météorologiques/GAME (CNRS & Météo-France), France

Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 2001, vol. 127, pp. 869-886.

Summary: A bulk massflux convection parameterization for deep and shallow convection is presented that includes an efficient and straightforward treatment of numerics, moist thermodynamics and convective downdrafts. The scheme is evaluated in a single column model context for a tropical deep convective period and a trade wind cumulus case. Preliminary applications in a global numerical weather prediction model and a mesoscale model are also discussed.
   The results suggest that the present scheme provides reasonable solutions in terms of predicted rainfall, and tropical temperature and moisture structures. The application of the scheme to various scales is supported by the use of a CAPE convective closure that assures a smooth interaction with the large­scale environment and efficiently suppresses CISK­like spin­up processes on the grid­scale. Finally, the theoretical and practical limits of the present approach are discussed together with possible future developments.