A mass-flux convection scheme for regional and global models

A bulk mass-flux convection parametrization for deep and shallow convection is presented that includes an efficient and straightforward treatment of n umerics, moist thermodynamics and convective downdraughts. The scheme is ev aluated in a single-column model context for a tropical deep-convective per iod and a trade-wind cumulus case. Preliminary applications in a global num erical weather-prediction model and a mesoscale model are also discussed. The results suggest that the present scheme provides reasonable solutions i n terms of predicted rainfall, and tropical temperature and moisture struct ures. The application of the scheme to various scales is supported by the u se of a convective available potential energy convective closure that assur es a smooth interaction with the large-scale environment and efficiently su ppresses conditional instability of the second kind-like spin-up processes on the grid-scale. Finally, the theoretical and practical limits of the present approach are d iscussed together with possible future developments.