%0 Journal Article %A Ackerley, D. %A Birch, C.E %A Garcia-Carreras, L. %A Lavender, S.L %A Weller, Evan %D 2019 %T The physical processes causing nocturnal rainfall over northwest Australia and their representation in high‐ and low‐resolution models with parametrized convection %U https://bridges.monash.edu/articles/journal_contribution/The_physical_processes_causing_nocturnal_rainfall_over_northwest_Australia_and_their_representation_in_high_and_low_resolution_models_with_parametrized_convection/8312762 %R 10.26180/5d102013a9f77 %2 https://bridges.monash.edu/ndownloader/files/15576188 %K nocturnal %K rainfall %K convergence %K dryline %K heat low %K CMIP5 %K MetUM %K northwest Australia %K Atmospheric Sciences %K Climate Science %X The diurnal cycle of precipitation in the Tropics is represented poorly in general circulation models (GCMs), which is primarily attributed to the representation of moist convection. Nonetheless, in areas where precipitation is driven by the diurnal cycle in the synoptic‐scale flow, GCMs may represent that circulation–rainfall relationship well. Over northwest Australia there is a tendency for precipitation to peak overnight where the diurnal cycle of the heat low circulation leads to the development of strong convergence after local sunset. In order to assess the heat low–precipitation relationship in more detail, a case‐study approach is used to investigate the actual ‘weather’ that is responsible for night‐time precipitation. The study shows that, where there is sufficient moisture, precipitation typically forms along convergence zones that coincide with boundaries between relatively moist and dry air masses (termed a ‘dryline’). A convergence line detection algorithm is then used to identify the fraction of observed nocturnal rainfall that is associated with any convergence zones. The same evaluation is then undertaken for a relatively high‐resolution (MetUM) and low‐resolution (ACCESS1.0) GCM, which simulate rainfall‐generation processes similar to the observations. Finally, the convergence line detection/precipitation algorithm is run on other GCM data (from CMIP5) to see whether the same processes occur despite different model configurations (i.e. physics), which appears to be the case.

"This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: [Ackerley, D. , Birch, C. E., Garcia‐Carreras, L. , Lavender, S. L. and Weller, E. (2018), The physical processes causing nocturnal rainfall over northwest Australia and their representation in high‐ and low‐resolution models with parametrized convection. Q.J.R. Meteorol. Soc., 144: 511-528. doi:10.1002/qj.3223], which has been published in final form. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions."
%I Monash University