The characteristics of numerically simulated clouds and convection depend on the resolution of weather and climate models. Subgrid clouds are parameterized in coarse-resolution models but are often resolved at higher resolutions. Such clouds are essential in understanding shallow convection and can significantly affect the radiation budget if unaccounted for in our current models. This project aims to quantify the characteristics of subgrid clouds by comparing several associated cloud and radiation fields simulated at different resolutions from a numerical weather prediction model to ground-based and available satellite observations. The main objective of the project is to understand how well sub-cloud variability is captured to varying resolutions in model simulations. The project requires Python programming skills in analysing data hosted on the biggest national supercomputer, Gadi.
Supervisors: Steven Sherwood (s.sherwood@unsw.edu.au) and Abhnil Prasad (abhnil.prasad@unsw.edu)
Location: UNSW