Competition Between Atmospheric and Surface Parameterizations for the Control of Air‐Sea Latent Heat Fluxes in Two Single‐Column Models. Issue 13 (8th July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Torres, Olivier; Braconnot, Pascale; Hourdin, Frédéric; Roehrig, Romain; Marti, Olivier; Belamari, Sophie; Lefebvre, Marie‐Pierre
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 46:Issue 13(2019)
• Page Start: 7780
• Page End: 7789
• Publication Date: 2019-07-08
• Subjects: Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1029/2019GL082720
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

Abstract: A single‐column model approach conducted in the context of the Madden–Julian Oscillation through the CINDY2011/Dynamics of the Madden–Julian Oscillation field campaign is used to disentangle the respective role of the parameterizations of surface turbulent fluxes and of model atmospheric physics in controlling the surface latent heat flux. The major differences between the models used in this study occur during the suppressed phases of deep convection. They are attributed to differences in model atmospheric physics which is shown to control the near‐surface relative humidity and thereby the surface latent heat flux. In contrast, during active phases of deep convection, turbulent air‐sea flux parameterizations impact the latent heat flux through the drag coefficient and can represent two thirds of the divergence caused by the different atmospheric physics. The combined effects need to be accounted for to improve both the representation of latent heat flux and the atmospheric variables used to compute it. Key Points: A single‐column model approach is used in the context of the CINDY2011/DYNAMO field campaign to compare models results during a MJO event Near‐surface relative humidity is a key constraint for the surface latent heat flux and the way it is simulated by different models Compared to atmospheric physics, air‐sea flux parameterization has a relatively large impact only during active convective phases