multi-scale interactions between atmospheric turbulence and cumulus convection

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H01974
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 17020:Atmospheric and hydrospheric sciences-related
• Research Institution: Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: Nishizawa Seiya 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 計算科学研究センター, 上級研究員 (40447892)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 大気乱流 / 積雲対流 / スケール間相互作用

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to understand the interaction between atmospheric turbulence, which has a scale of less than O(1 km), and cumulus convection, which has a scale of O(10 km). Multiple large-eddy simulation experiments were conducted to explicitly resolve both atmospheric turbulence and cumulus convection, and the relationship between the two was analyzed from multiple perspectives. As a result, we were able to clarify the contribution of turbulence caused by small-scale topography and turbulence in the boundary layer to cumulus convection and its self-organization. On the other hand, a comprehensive understanding of their interaction has not yet been achieved, and further research is needed.

Free Research Field

気象学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

大気乱流の研究は、これまで乾燥大気を対象としたものが多かった。一方で、積雲対流は相変化を伴う湿潤過程を含んでおり、極めて非線形性の高い現象である。本研究で、乱流の影響が、湿潤過程を通じて増幅される効果があることが分かった。これらの知見により、今後、大気乱流の研究において、これまでの乾燥大気における大気乱流研究を超えた、新しい展開が開けることが期待される。