A GCSS model intercomparison for a tropical squall line observed during TOGA-COARE. Part I: Cloud-resolving models

J.-L Redelsperger1, P. R. A. Brown2, F. Guichard1, C. Hoff1, M. Kawasima3, S. Lang4, T. Montmerle5, K. Nakamura6, K. Saito7, C. Seman8, W.-K. Tao4 and L. J. Donner8

1CNRM /GAME( CNRS & Météo-France), Toulouse, France
2UK Met Office/JCMM, Reading, United Kingdom
3ILTS, Sapporo, Japan
4GSFC, Greenbelt, USA
5CETP, Velizy, France
6ORI, Tokyo, Japan
7MRI, Tsukuba, Japan
8GFDL, Princeton, USA

Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 2000, vol. 126, pp. 823-864.

Summary: Results from 8 Cloud­Resolving models are compared for the first time for the case of an oceanic tropical squall line observed during TOGA­ COARE. There is broad agreement between all the models in describing the overall structure and propagation of the squall line and some quantitative agreement in the evolution of rainfall. There is also a more qualitative agreement between models in describing the vertical structure of the apparent heat and moisture sources. 3D experiments with an active ice phase and open lateral boundary conditions along the direction of system propagation show good agreement for all parameters. The comparison of 3D simulated fields with those obtained from two different analyses of airborne Doppler radar data indicates that the 3D models are able to simulate its dynamical structure. The double­peaked updraft structure observed by Doppler radar is thus simulated. The second peak around 10 km in height is obtained only when the ice phase is represented. 2D simulations with an ice phase parameterization also exhibit this structure although with a larger temporal variability. In 3D simulations, the evolution of the mean wind profile is in the sense of decreasing the shear. 2D simulations are unable to reproduce this behaviour.