Diabatic evolution of clouds in a Lagrangian framework: turbulence, vorticity dynamics and precipitation effects
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: School of Earth and Environment
Abstract
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Publications
Frey M
(2022)
EPIC: The Elliptical Parcel-In-Cell method
in Journal of Computational Physics: X
| Description | We developed a major extension to a computational method for simulating the complex dynamics of clouds in the atmosphere. The novelty of the method is it use of deformable ellipsoidal parcels which move with the flow and contain all of the essential information needed (temperature, humidity, etc) to represent the full three-dimensional, time-evolving flow. The method offers major advantages over existing methods for studying clouds, including the critically important ability to faithfully represent very small scale turbulent motion. A paper is expected to be submitted shortly to the Journal of Computational Physics X, where we published a previous prototype method developed for two-dimensional flows (which are assumed independent of one coordinate direction). |
| Exploitation Route | The associated software will be made available to the wider atmospheric dynamics community upon publication of the paper. Moreover, the method can be further extended into domains outside the original scope of this project, e.g. to magnetised flows in the sun. With little modification, the method could be adapted to study the upper ocean, whose complex mixing processes are vital to understanding climate. |
| Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) |
| Description | We have been involved in detailed discussions with the UK Met Office (UKMO), specifically the Convection Division led by Dr Alison Stirling, most recently in early December 2022. The UKMO is interested in applying our new computational method, and we have jointly worked out the best way forward to extend our method for realistic applications in weather and climate. This is an evolving impact in its early stages. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
| Sector | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) |
| Impact Types | Societal,Policy & public services |
| Description | Convective Cloud Dynamics and Turbulence Interactions with Microphysical Processes and the Atmospheric Environment (CLOUDY TIME) |
| Amount | £912,815 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NE/X018547/1 |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2023 |
| End | 08/2026 |
| Title | EPIC - the Elliptical Parcel In Cell method |
| Description | A new numerical method for simulating 2D stratified flows under the Boussinesq approximation. Uses parcels to represent all quantities and an underlying grid for efficiency. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Open Source License? | Yes |
| Impact | This method has been shown to greatly improve the modelling of density stratified flows, reaching higher accuracy and efficiency than standard methods. |
| Description | A fully Lagrangian approach to modelling convection (5th Convective scale workshop) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Lighning talk on EPIC at the 5th Convective scale workshop (Convection processes session), organised by the Met Office Unified Model partnership |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Clouds and coherent structures (Coherent Structures in Astro-Geo-Turbulence Workshop, Flatiron Institute) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A group of experts attended this talk, which was part of a workshop in preparation for a grant submission. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | EPIC: the Elliptical Parcel-In-Cell Method (meeting at UK Met Office, November 2022) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Contribution to EPIC meeting at the Uk Met Office (project partner), group presentaiton given by Matthias Frey, David Dritschel and Steven Boeing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Essentially Lagrangian simulation of turbulence, mixing and phase transitions with the Ellipsoidal Parcel-in-Cell model (Leipzig Meteorological Colloquium) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Seminar talk at the Leipzig Meteorological Colloquium (held jointly between the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research and University of Leipzig). About 15 participants (partially online). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Karlsruher Meteorologisches Kolloquium, 13 July 2021 (virtual) - S Boeing |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Seminar given at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, which is one of the global leading centres for atmospheric research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Workshop on Spatial Organisation of Convection, Clouds and Precipitation, May 5 2021, Niels Bohr Institute (virtual poster) by S Boeing |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Virtual poster presentation at a workshop for specialists in the field of atmospheric convection |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |