Moist atmospheric convection

The APP convection group conducts research and development in convection parametrization as well as owning and maintaining the Unified Model convection code. Currently we are evaluating different approaches to convection parametrization and specifically a new turbulence-based approach. This involves both a warm scheme for shallow and congestus clouds, and a deep convection scheme suitable for glaciated convection. At the same time we are working to improve incrementally the existing mass-flux scheme. All this work is in partnership with groups responsible for Unified Model assessment in forecast model development and diagnostics and Global Modelling.

We are also involved in high-resolution modelling through the Cascade project (collaborative with universities).

Key aims

• Incremental improvement of our mass-flux convection scheme

• Evaluation of new approaches to convection parametrization

• Research on stochastic physics