Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
www.atmos-chem-phys.net
1680-7316
1680-7324
7
17
2007
10.5194/acp-7-4553-2007
http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/7/4553/2007/
http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/7/4553/2007/acp-7-4553-2007.html
http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/7/4553/2007/acp-7-4553-2007.pdf
4553
4568
2007-09-05
Lightning and convection parameterisations – uncertainties in global modelling
H. Tost
tost@mpch-mainz.mpg.de
P. Jöckel
J. Lelieveld
Atmospheric Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, P.O. Box 3060, 55020 Mainz, Germany
The simulation of convection, lightning and consequent NO<sub>x</sub>
emissions with global atmospheric chemistry models is associated with
large uncertainties since these processes are heavily parameterised.
Each parameterisation by itself has deficiencies and the combination of
these substantially increases the uncertainties compared to the
individual parameterisations.
In this study several combinations of state-of-the-art convection and
lightning parameterisations are used in simulations with the
global atmospheric chemistry general circulation model ECHAM5/MESSy, and
are evaluated against lightning observations.
A wide range in the spatial and temporal variability of the simulated
flash densities is found, attributed to both types of parameterisations.
Some combinations perform well, whereas others are hardly applicable.
In addition to resolution dependent rescaling parameters, each
combination of lightning and convection schemes requires individual
scaling to reproduce the observed flash frequencies.
The resulting NO<sub>x</sub> profiles are inter-compared, however definite
conclusions about the most realistic profiles can currently not be
drawn.
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