74th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Fluid Dynamics (November 21, 2021 — November 23, 2021)

V0013: Large-eddy simulation of cumulus clouds

Authors

• Georgios Matheou, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Connecticut

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/APS.DFD.2021.GFM.V0013

The representation of clouds in climate models is one of the largest sources of uncertainty in climate projections. High-resolution numerical modeling is used to elucidate the cloud physics and develop parameterizations for the representation of clouds in weather and climate models. Large-eddy simulation (LES) is currently the best technique to provide reliable and well-characterized cloud modeling. The video shows a simulation of a cumulus-topped trade wind atmospheric boundary layer observed during the Barbados Oceanographic and Meteorological Experiment (BOMEX). The video demonstrates the fidelity of modern computational methods for the simulation of clouds and atmospheric turbulence. These simulations help address important questions in environmental fluid dynamics and atmospheric science, and help improve weather forecasts and climate projections.