Effects of cumulus parameterization closures on simulations of summer precipitation over the United States coastal oceans

This study evaluates the effects of major cumulus parameterization closures on summer precipitation simulations over the U.S. Atlantic Coasts and Gulf of Mexico. A series of mesoscale regional climate model simulations using an Ensemble Cumulus Parameterization (ECP) that incorporates multiple alternate closure schemes into a single cloud model formulation are conducted and compared to determine the systematic errors and relative performances of individual and combined closures in capturing precipitation spatiotemporal variations. The results show that closure algorithms largely affect precipitation's geographic distribution, frequency and intensity, and diurnal cycle. The quasi‐equilibrium and total instability adjustment closures simulate widespread wet biases, while the instability tendency closure produces systematic dry biases. Two closure algorithms based on the average vertical velocity at the cloud base and column moisture convergence complementarily reproduce the observed precipitation pattern and amount, and capture the frequency of heavy rainfall events better than other closures. In contrast, the instability tendency closures are better at capturing the diurnal phase but yield much larger deficits in amount. Therefore, cloud base vertical velocity and moisture convergence may be the primary factors controlling precipitation seasonal mean and daily variation, while the instability tendency may play a critical role in regulating the diurnal cycle phase. Key Points The Ensemble Cumulus Parameterization includes multiple closures with varying weights specific of land and ocean It allows a systematic, objective evaluation of how varying cumulus closures affect regional climate simulations Cumulus closures greatly affect the model ability in capturing spatiotemporal variations of U.S. coastal ocean precipitation