Yh. Kuo et al., SUMMARY OF A MINI WORKSHOP ON CUMULUS PARAMETERIZATION FOR MESOSCALE MODELS, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 78(3), 1997, pp. 475-491
Representing the effects of cumulus parameterization in numerical mode
ls, known as cumulus parameterization, is of fundamental importance in
atmospheric sciences. Despite a significant amount of effort devoted
to improving the understanding of the parameterization problem, a gene
ral theory of cumulus parameterization does not exist. The problem is
particularly difficult for a mesoscale model with a grid size of 1-20
km because at such a resolution, a numerical model introduces an artif
icial spectral gap by splitting an organized mesoscale convective syst
em into resolvable and subgrid scales of motions. To provide a forum f
or a focused discussion on the problem of cumulus parameterization for
mesoscale models, the Mesoscale and Microscale Meteorology Division o
f NCAR conducted a mini workshop on 11-12 September 1995 in Boulder, C
olorado. Approximately 50 scientists participated in this workshop. Th
e workshop was organized into six sessions: 1) overview of the cumulus
parameterization problem, 2) cloud model perspectives, 3) model sensi
tivity to convective parameterization, 4) mesoscale organization and m
omentum transport, 5) mesoscale observations and verification of schem
es, and 6) summary and general discussion. The scientific presentation
s and the discussion are summarized from reports submitted by the sess
ion chairs.