Muller, Caroline, Yang, Da, Craig, George, Cronin, Timothy, Fildier, Benjamin, Haerter, Jan O. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8617-3847, Hohenegger, Cathy, Mapes, Brian, Randall, David, Shamekh, Sara and Sherwood, Steven C. (2021) Spontaneous Aggregation of Convective Storms. Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics, 54 (1). DOI https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-fluid-022421-011319.

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Abstract

Idealized simulations of the tropical atmosphere have predicted that clouds can spontaneously clump together in space, despite perfectly homogeneous settings. This phenomenon has been called self-aggregation, and it results in a state where a moist cloudy region with intense deep convective storms is surrounded by extremely dry subsiding air devoid of deep clouds. We review here the main findings from theoretical work and idealized models of this phenomenon, highlighting the physical processes believed to play a key role in convective self-aggregation. We also review the growing literature on the importance and implications of this phenomenon for the tropical atmosphere, notably, for the hydrological cycle and for precipitation extremes, in our current and in a warming climate.

Document Type: Article
Programme Area: PA2
Research affiliation: Integrated Modelling > Complexity and Climate
Refereed: Yes
Open Access Journal?: No
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-fluid-022421-011319
ISSN: 0066-4189
Date Deposited: 13 Oct 2021 10:37
Last Modified: 26 Mar 2024 13:31
URI: http://cris.leibniz-zmt.de/id/eprint/4743

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