Single Column Modeling
Data

GCSS
GCSS is the GEWEX Cloud Systems Study (GEWEX is the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment). GCSS has four working groups devoted to four specific types of cloud system: Boundary-layer clouds (Working Group 1); Cirrus clouds (Working Group 2); Midlatitude frontal cloud systems (Working Group 3); and Deep, precipitating convection (Working Group 4). Each of these four groups have adopted single-column modeling as a key research strategy, and each is also making use of cloud ensemble models. Specific case studies have been identified by individual working groups.
Other GCSS links of interest: ARM
Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program The Atmospheric Radiation Measurment (ARM) program has the development and testing of radiation and cloud parameterizations as its overall goal, in an effort to improve on the understanding of processes that affect atmospheric radiation and the description of these processes in climate models. This goal is to be accomplished by the direct comparison of model calculations with a comprehensive set of field observations, obtained under a wide variety of meteorological conditions.

The main objectives of ARM as may be broken down into two areas of activity: 1) Relating observed radiative fluxes in the atmosphere to the atmospheric temperature, composition and surface radiative properties. 2) Developing and testing parameterizations that describe atmospheric water vapor and clouds, as well as the surface properties affecting atmospheric radiation. This testing is to be carried out through the comparison of relevant prognostic variables from the model with real atmospheric data.

The ARM program is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and is an outgrowth of the United States Global Change Research Program (USGCRP; CEES 1990).

ASTEX
Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment ASTEX was conducted in June 1992 off North Africa in the area of Azores and Madiera Islands. The experiment involved intensive measurements from several platforms and was designed to provide improved dynamical, radiative, and microphysical models and an improved understanding of the impact of aerosols, cloud microphysics, and chemistry on large-scale cloud properties.

BOMEX
Barbados Oceanographic and Meteorologic Experiment The BOMEX experiment, designed by Davidson (1968), was carried out over a 500-km area east of Barbados during May and June 1969. This time period was selected in order to provide good convective activity without well developed storms. The "Core Experiment" of BOMEX proposed to determine rates of transfer of water vapor, heat, and momentum from the ocean to the atmosphere.

GATE
GARP Atlantic Tropical Experiment The Global Atmospheric Research Program's (GARP) Atlantic Tropical Experiment (GATE) was conducted in the summer of 1974. One of the central objectives of GATE was to understand the scale interactions between convective activity and large-scale weather systems.

TOGA-COARE
Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere - Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Response Experiment TOGA-COARE was conducted over the western Pacific warm pool in a region between 20N and 20S and bounded by Indonesia on the west and the date line on the east. The Intensive Observing Period for TOGA-COARE lasted from November 1992 through February 1993. The main goal of TOGA-COARE was to improve our understanding of the role of the western Pacific Ocean warm water pool (SSTs > 28C) in the mean and transient state of the tropical ocean/global atmosphere system.

-------------------------

Comments To:
Prof. Dave Randall
Dept of Atmospheric Science
Colorado State University
970 491 8474
randall@atmos.colostate.edu

Webmaster:
Kelley Branson
Dept of Atmospheric Science
Colorado State University
970 491 8585
kelley@atmos.colostate.edu