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Precipitation-generated oscillations in open cellular cloud fields

Author

Listed:
  • Graham Feingold

    (NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL))

  • Ilan Koren

    (Weizmann Institute)

  • Hailong Wang

    (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

  • Huiwen Xue

    (School of Physics, Peking University)

  • Wm. Alan Brewer

    (NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL))

Abstract

Reach for the clouds Cloud simulation is one of the most challenging tasks in regional- to global-scale climate modelling. In many cases, the physical mechanisms responsible for observed cloud dynamics are unknown, making it difficult to simulate their structure and behaviour realistically. Feingold et al. use satellite imagery and numerical models to show how downdrafts induced by precipitating clouds produce an open cellular cloud pattern — characterized by low reflectivity — that oscillates between different, metastable states. The resulting cloud structure forms an oscillating and self-organizing cloud field as new cloud patterns emerge to replace the old ones.

Suggested Citation

  • Graham Feingold & Ilan Koren & Hailong Wang & Huiwen Xue & Wm. Alan Brewer, 2010. "Precipitation-generated oscillations in open cellular cloud fields," Nature, Nature, vol. 466(7308), pages 849-852, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:466:y:2010:i:7308:d:10.1038_nature09314
    DOI: 10.1038/nature09314
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