The moist thermodynamic processes that determine the scale and energy of the Madden-Julian Oscillation are investigated using moisture and eddy available potential energy (EAPE) budget analyses on a high resolution regional model simulation. The two MJO episodes observed during the winter of 2007-2008 are realistically simulated. In the model, small differences among the timescales of convective vertical transport, mixing and condensation of moisture determine the timescale of MJO moistening. Furthermore, various cloud types play a damping or destabilizing contribution role in the EAPE budget of the MJO, depending on their characteristic latent heating profile and its covariance with the temperature fluctuations. The results are used identify possible sources of the difficulties in simulating MJO in low resolution models that rely on cumulus parameterizations.
Revised: November 4, 2011 |
Published: October 31, 2011