Self-aggregation of convection in cloud resolving simulations

The movie shows outputs from a cloud-resolving model. Such models are used to investigate the properties of convection at fairly high resolution (order one kilometer typically). Shown are clouds (gray surfaces) over surface temperatures (colors).

The small-domain run (top panel) has reached radiative convective equilibrium. The equilibrium climate is a state of somewhat disorganized convection, with convective events occuring all over the place.

The large-domain run (bottom panel) looks quite different; convection spontaneously aggregates, eventually leading to an atmospheric state with one convectively active moist region surrounded by very dry air. The spontaneous aggregation of convection into one single region on large domains is a phenomenon known as Self-Aggregation.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Atmospheric
• Dynamics
• High-Resolution
• Convection
• Modeling
• Clouds

[carolinemuller123]

@blcrancer

Hello,

I use MATLAB. For the color plot you can use the MATLAB commands surf or contourf. For the isosurface of condensates you can use patch(isosurface...) and change the properties of the isosurface using set, for instance to plot the isosurface F=0.3 :

p = patch(isosurface(X,Y,Z,F,0.3))­; view(-26,46); whitebg('k');

set(p,'FaceColor','white','Edg­eColor','none','AmbientStrengt­h',0.5,'FaceAlpha',0.4);

camlight; lighting phong;

I hope that helps!

[blcrancer]

May you tell me what is the tool you use to plot such fancy movie?