We quantitatively assess thermodynamic characteristics shared by deep convection over the tropical oceans, and develop a simple model to explain the observed precipitation distribution, as well as geographic variability in the vertical development of deep convection.Relationships between humidity, surface wind speed and ...

Middle-tropospheric vertical velocity(o500) is used to isolate the effect of large-scale dynamics on the observed radiation budget and cloud properties in the Tropics. The ratio of shortwave to longwave cloud forcing (N=-SWCF/LWCF) is approximately 1.2 and independent of the magnitude of w5oo when it is upward over the warmer ...

The bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) of snow was measured from a 32-meter tower at Dome C, at latitude 75°S on the East Antarctic Plateau. These measurements were made at 96 solar zenith angles between 51° and 87°, and cover wavelengths 350--2400 nm, over the full range of viewing geometry.Parameterizations ...

This study employs a high resolution numerical cloud model to investigate overturning of the tropical environment by mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) occurring over the westerly onset and strong westerly regions of the large scale Kelvin-Rossby wave pattern during the Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere Coupled Ocean Atmosphere ...

One measure of the utility of ensemble prediction systems is the relationship between ensemble spread and forecast error. Unfortunately, this relationship is often characterized by an inadequate measure (the spread-error correlation) that makes two critical assumptions: (1) a linear dependency between ensemble spread and ...

Simulations performed by a 3D cloud-resolving model are used to study the transport of tropospheric tracers into the lowermost stratosphere via midlatitude convection. Direct transport by convection is believed to be the most likely mechanism by which short-lived chemical species can be transported from the boundary layer to ...

The development of frontal waves over the Southern Ocean is described using SeaWinds-on-QuikSCAT scatterometer surface winds. A planetary boundary layer model is used to construct surface pressure fields and correct the wind errors due to rain contamination and the geometry of the scatterometer antenna. The divergence and ...

In this dissertation, mechanisms responsible for the climatological large-scale distribution of precipitation in the tropical Pacific are addressed, in particular the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ). This study is performed using numerical experiments with idealized ...

A three dimensional mesoscale model is used to examine the structure of gravity waves triggered by tropical convection and their role in the dynamics of the lower tropical stratosphere. Three distinct cases of tropical convection are considered. The first case is thought to be representative of a seasonal thunderstorm storm, ...

Four investigations into the climate of the South Pole are presented. The general subjects of polar cloud cover, the surface energy balance in a stable boundary layer, subsurface energy transfer in snow, and modification of water stable isotopes in snow after deposition are investigated based on the historical data set from ...