Quantifying the Resolution Sensitivity of the Kain–Fritsch Scheme Across the Gray Zone by Isolating Interactions: A TWP‐ICE Case Study

Abstract The resolution sensitivity of the Kain–Fritsch (KF) convection scheme and the role of interactions between the physics and dynamics within the gray zone (<10 km) were investigated using the Separate Physics and Dynamics Experiment (SPADE) framework. Two groups of experiments were conduct...

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Main Authors: Ling Zuo, Lijuan Li, William I. Gustafson Jr., Liping Luo, Yimin Liu, Bin Wang, Yan Nie, Feng Xie, He Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Geophysical Union (AGU) 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024MS004604
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author Ling Zuo
Lijuan Li
William I. Gustafson Jr.
Liping Luo
Yimin Liu
Bin Wang
Yan Nie
Feng Xie
He Wang
author_facet Ling Zuo
Lijuan Li
William I. Gustafson Jr.
Liping Luo
Yimin Liu
Bin Wang
Yan Nie
Feng Xie
He Wang
author_sort Ling Zuo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The resolution sensitivity of the Kain–Fritsch (KF) convection scheme and the role of interactions between the physics and dynamics within the gray zone (<10 km) were investigated using the Separate Physics and Dynamics Experiment (SPADE) framework. Two groups of experiments were conducted using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model via traditional (Tradition) runs and SPADE runs with resolutions of 1, 2, 4, and 8 km during the wet period of the Tropical Warm Pool–International Cloud Experiment (TWP‐ICE). Results show that the KF scheme simulates the weakened convective processes well as the resolution increases in both groups, and the changes in the convective variables with resolution in SPADE are smaller than in the Tradition group. This indicates the important effects of interactions between model components on convection parameterizations as the resolution changes. Additionally, the microphysics variables remain nearly unchanged with resolution in SPADE and weaken slightly in Tradition as the resolution decreases, suggesting the relatively weaker influences of model interactions for the resolved‐cloud parameterization. Therefore, the scale‐aware behavior of KF scheme is further strengthened in Tradition runs, primarily through inhibiting the strength of stratiform processes through physics–dynamics interactions and physical components.
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publisher American Geophysical Union (AGU)
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spelling doaj-art-d202276bfff44fb9a58dca64cb742e432025-08-20T02:30:14ZengAmerican Geophysical Union (AGU)Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems1942-24662025-05-01175n/an/a10.1029/2024MS004604Quantifying the Resolution Sensitivity of the Kain–Fritsch Scheme Across the Gray Zone by Isolating Interactions: A TWP‐ICE Case StudyLing Zuo0Lijuan Li1William I. Gustafson Jr.2Liping Luo3Yimin Liu4Bin Wang5Yan Nie6Feng Xie7He Wang8State Key Laboratory of Earth System Numerical Modeling and Application Institute of Atmospheric Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaState Key Laboratory of Earth System Numerical Modeling and Application Institute of Atmospheric Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaAtmospheric Sciences and Global Change Division Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland WA USACollege of Civil Aviation Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics Nanjing ChinaState Key Laboratory of Earth System Numerical Modeling and Application Institute of Atmospheric Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaState Key Laboratory of Earth System Numerical Modeling and Application Institute of Atmospheric Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaChina Resources Power Technology Research Wanchai Hong KongState Key Laboratory of Earth System Numerical Modeling and Application Institute of Atmospheric Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaState Key Laboratory of Earth System Numerical Modeling and Application Institute of Atmospheric Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaAbstract The resolution sensitivity of the Kain–Fritsch (KF) convection scheme and the role of interactions between the physics and dynamics within the gray zone (<10 km) were investigated using the Separate Physics and Dynamics Experiment (SPADE) framework. Two groups of experiments were conducted using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model via traditional (Tradition) runs and SPADE runs with resolutions of 1, 2, 4, and 8 km during the wet period of the Tropical Warm Pool–International Cloud Experiment (TWP‐ICE). Results show that the KF scheme simulates the weakened convective processes well as the resolution increases in both groups, and the changes in the convective variables with resolution in SPADE are smaller than in the Tradition group. This indicates the important effects of interactions between model components on convection parameterizations as the resolution changes. Additionally, the microphysics variables remain nearly unchanged with resolution in SPADE and weaken slightly in Tradition as the resolution decreases, suggesting the relatively weaker influences of model interactions for the resolved‐cloud parameterization. Therefore, the scale‐aware behavior of KF scheme is further strengthened in Tradition runs, primarily through inhibiting the strength of stratiform processes through physics–dynamics interactions and physical components.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024MS004604resolution sensitivityKain‐Fritsch schemegray zonephysics‐dynamics interactions
spellingShingle Ling Zuo
Lijuan Li
William I. Gustafson Jr.
Liping Luo
Yimin Liu
Bin Wang
Yan Nie
Feng Xie
He Wang
Quantifying the Resolution Sensitivity of the Kain–Fritsch Scheme Across the Gray Zone by Isolating Interactions: A TWP‐ICE Case Study
Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems
resolution sensitivity
Kain‐Fritsch scheme
gray zone
physics‐dynamics interactions
title Quantifying the Resolution Sensitivity of the Kain–Fritsch Scheme Across the Gray Zone by Isolating Interactions: A TWP‐ICE Case Study
title_full Quantifying the Resolution Sensitivity of the Kain–Fritsch Scheme Across the Gray Zone by Isolating Interactions: A TWP‐ICE Case Study
title_fullStr Quantifying the Resolution Sensitivity of the Kain–Fritsch Scheme Across the Gray Zone by Isolating Interactions: A TWP‐ICE Case Study
title_full_unstemmed Quantifying the Resolution Sensitivity of the Kain–Fritsch Scheme Across the Gray Zone by Isolating Interactions: A TWP‐ICE Case Study
title_short Quantifying the Resolution Sensitivity of the Kain–Fritsch Scheme Across the Gray Zone by Isolating Interactions: A TWP‐ICE Case Study
title_sort quantifying the resolution sensitivity of the kain fritsch scheme across the gray zone by isolating interactions a twp ice case study
topic resolution sensitivity
Kain‐Fritsch scheme
gray zone
physics‐dynamics interactions
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024MS004604
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