Comparison of Rainfall Profiles in the West African Monsoon as Depicted by TRMM PR and the LMDZ Climate Model

Vertical rainfall profiles obtained with TRMM-PR 2A25 standard products are compared with rain profiles deduced from the Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique second generation global climate model (LMDZ, the Z stands for zoom capability) with two parameterization schemes: Emanuel’s and Tiedke’s. This paper focuses on the low layers of the atmosphere over West Africa during the monsoon [June–September (JJAS)]. The precipitation decrease above 4 km is systematically not represented in rainfall profiles generated by Emanuel’s parameterization scheme. However, Emanuel’s scheme shows a decrease similar to the observation from 4 km down to the surface, especially in the Sahel (proper depth of the layer dominated by reevaporation). As for Tiedtke’s scheme, it best describes the downward increase in the upper levels of the atmosphere, whereas the downward decrease in the lower levels begins too low when compared to the observations. Tiedtke’s parameterization shows an overestimation of liquid water production over the ocean and over the Guinean region and a slightly too strong reevaporation in the Sahara and Sahel. The zonal distribution of vertical rain profiles is then biased with this model scheme compared to the 2A25-PR product. On the other hand, although Emanuel’s scheme detects too much reevaporation over the Sahara and underestimates liquid water production over the ocean compared to PR observation, it shows a good meridional distribution of these parameters. This is especially true in the Sahel where Emanuel’s scheme gives the best representation of reevaporation.