Advancing organized convection representation in the unified model: Implementing and enhancing multiscale coherent structure parameterization

To address the effect of stratiform latent heating on meso‐ to large‐scale circulations, an enhanced implementation of the Multiscale Coherent Structure Parameterization (MCSP) is developed for the Met Office Unified Model. MCSP represents the top‐heavy stratiform latent heating from under‐resolved organized convection in general circulation models. We couple the MCSP with a mass‐flux convection scheme (CoMorph‐A) to improve storm lifecycle continuity. The improved MCSP trigger is specifically designed for mixed‐phase deep convective cloud, combined with a background vertical wind shear, both known to be crucial for stratiform development. We also test a cloud top temperature dependent convective‐stratiform heating partitioning, in contrast to the earlier fixed partitioning. Assessments from ensemble weather forecasts and decadal simulations demonstrate that MCSP directly reduces cloud deepening and precipitation areas by moderating mesoscale circulations. Indirectly, it amends tropical precipitation biases, notably correcting dry and wet biases over India and the Indian Ocean, respectively. Remarkably, the scheme outperforms a climate model ensemble by improving seasonal precipitation cycle predictions in these regions. The scheme also improves Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO) spectra, achieving better alignment with observational and reanalysis data by intensifying the simulated MJO over the Indian Ocean during phases 4 to 5. However, the scheme increases precipitation overestimation over the Western Pacific. Shifting from fixed to temperature‐dependent convective‐stratiform partitioning reduces the Pacific precipitation overestimation and further improves the seasonal cycle in India. Spatially correlated biases highlight the necessity for advances beyond deterministic approaches to align MCSP with environmental conditions.

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Related Dataset #1 : Supporting Datasets for Submission: "Advancing Organized Convection Representation in the Unified Model: Implementing and Enhancing Multiscale Coherent Structure Parameterization" to Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems

Related Dataset #2 : Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) Climate Data Record (CDR), Version 1.3 (Daily)

Related Software #1 : Organized Convection Parameterization Source Code for Submission: "Advancing Organized Convection Representation in the Unified Model: Implementing and Enhancing Multiscale Coherent Structure Parameterization" to Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems

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Author Zhang, Z.
Christensen, H. M.
Muetzelfeldt, M.
Woollings, T.
Plant, R. S.
Stirling, A.
Whitall, M.
Moncrieff, Mitchell W. ORCID icon
Chen, Chih-Chieh ORCID icon
Feng, Z.
Publisher UCAR/NCAR - Library
Publication Date 2025-03-01T00:00:00
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) Not Assigned
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Topic Category geoscientificInformation
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Metadata Date 2025-12-24T17:53:52.842579
Metadata Record Identifier edu.ucar.opensky::articles:43874
Metadata Language eng; USA
Suggested Citation Zhang, Z., Christensen, H. M., Muetzelfeldt, M., Woollings, T., Plant, R. S., Stirling, A., Whitall, M., Moncrieff, Mitchell W., Chen, Chih-Chieh, Feng, Z.. (2025). Advancing organized convection representation in the unified model: Implementing and enhancing multiscale coherent structure parameterization. UCAR/NCAR - Library. https://n2t.net/ark:/85065/d7q52v2c. Accessed 03 February 2026.

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