[A-AS01] Evolution of Global Environmental Research based on Atmospheric Vertical Motions

[AAS01-03] A Satellite-Based Estimate of Convective Vertical Velocity and Convective Mass Flux

*Zhengzhao Johnny Luo¹, Hirohiko Masunaga² (1.City University of New York, City College, 2.Nagoya University)

Convective vertical velocity and convective mass flux play a critical role in the complex interactions between convection and the environment. Convective mass flux is also a key parameter in most GCM’s cumulus parameterization schemes. Yet, no global observations of these variables exist at this time. For this reason, observing convective vertical motion has been identified as a main target of future Earth-observing missions (e.g., EarthCARE, INCUS and AOS). As a supplement to these future observations, we present an alternative, satellite-based method to estimate convective mass flux. The method is a hybrid approach that blends multiple information across scales including satellite observations of convective cloud properties, ambient sounding, and a plume model. Two validations studies are presented, one using ground-based radar wind profiler observations and another using the Observing System Simulation Experiment (OSSE) approach. Both show that the new method is capable of capturing the mean structure of convective vertical motions. The satellite-based estimates of convective vertical velocity and convective mass flux open up new opportunities for studying convective dynamics globally and for evaluating GCM cumulus parameterizations. A few examples of these studies will be shown. Finally, we will discuss the value of such hybrid method in the context of upcoming satellite missions that will provide more direct observations of convective vertical motions.