CRMs and GCMs

The CRMs are numerical models able to resolve cloud-scale circulations. For example, in the case of precipitating deep convection, a CRM can resolve individual convective cells (scale of few kms) while its domain encompasses the entire convective system.

In contrast, a GCM with typical grid size of 100 km. cannot resolve individual convective cells. These subgrid-scale processes and the collective effects need to be parameterized. These collective effects difficult to deduce from observations can be easily determined from CRM simulations. A CRM domain can be considered to represent a GCM grid volume and in this sense a CRM simulation could produce a comprehensive 4D dataset of physical processes occuring in this GCM volume.

Related Page 1 | Related Page 2 | Related Page 3