Modelling isolated deep convection: A case study from COPS

This study aims to determine the important physical processes which need to be well represented in a model simulation of the deep convective cloud which occurred on the 15th July 2007 during the Convective and Orographically-induced Precipitation Study (COPS). During the afternoon of 15th July 2007, an isolated, deep convective cloud developed, reaching heights of 12 km above ground level. Previous studies have shown that numerical weather prediction models struggle to simulate realistically this particular cloud. In the present study, it is found that a reservoir of moist air developed, providing necessary energy ready to be released via a suitable trigger (the arrival of a convergence line). A series of tests of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is employed to find the modelled sensitivities to boundary-layer and land-surface specification, and the combinations of these necessary to provide the reservoir of moist air.