Modeling Observations from EPIC 2001 in the Weak Temperature Gradient Approximation

POSTER

Abstract

The Weak Temperature Gradient (WTG) is a parameterization for convection by the large scale environment used for modeling convection in the tropics. We use WTG simulations to study the extent to which tropical convection is driven by different factors by comparing these simulations to observations. Specifically, we compare the output of these simulations to data taken during the EPIC (Eastern Pacific Investigations of Climate) 2001 field campaign. The data from the EPIC program are used to generate time dependent perturbations on the reference profile used by the simulation for the ambient thermodynamic conditions as well as the local surface wind speeds. We compare four simulations: one with no perturbations, one with thermodynamic perturbations, one with wind speed perturbations, and one with all of the perturbations. Here we report on the results by comparing the evolution of dynamical quantities from the simulations to the evolution of the same in the EPIC data.

Authors

  • Andrew Arrasmith

    New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

  • Norm Buchanan

    Brigham Young University, Stanford University, University of Central Florida, NCAR/High Altitude Observatory, Arizona Vitro-retinal consultants, University of Michigan, Arizona State University, University of Denver, Arizona State University Dept of Physics, Arizona State University Dept of Chemistry and Biochemistry, LASP, University of Colorado Boulder, Center for Atmospheric and Space Science, Utah State University, Dixie State College, Utah, USU Materials Physics Group, UVU Physics Department, Box Elder Innovations, Space Telescope Science Institute, Northern Kentucky University, Retired, Utah Valley University, Univ. of California, Los Angelos, Colorado State University, St. Petersburg Electro-technical University, Universidad Nacional Aut\'onoma de M\'exico, New Mexico State University, University of New Mexico, University of Wurtzberg, Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, LANL, UCLA, Max-planck-Institut f\"{u}r Astronomie, W. M. Keck Observatory, University of Arizona, Nuclear Physics Group, Brigham Young University, GLOBALFOUNDRIES, IBM Systems and Technology Group, IBM Research Division, T.J. Watson Research Center, Sandia National Laboratory, NMSU, Military University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland, James Franck Institute and Department of Physics, University of Chicago, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, JISAO, University of Washington, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, NorthWest Research Associates, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Utah State University, New Mexico Tech, University of Cambridge, Los Alamos National Laboratory, RAPTOR Science, Institute of Space and Astronomical Science, Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, Weber State University, Department of Physics, New Mexico State University, BYU Physics, Physics Department, University of Arizona, ABQMR, University of Colorado at Boulder, SNL and CINT, Los Alamos National Lab, Center for Quantum Information and Control, University of Arizona, Center for Quantum Information and Control, University of New Mexico, University of Calgary, Colorado School of Mines