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NASA NTRS1997

Interferometric Images of the Sunyaev - Zel'dovich Effect in Galaxy Clusters from z = 0.15 to z = 0.83

We describe the current results of a sensitive interferometric imaging survey of the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect towards distant galaxy clusters. Images of the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect -- a minute distortion imprinted on the cosmic microwave background radiation by scattering within the hot gaseous envelopes of galaxy clusters -- are obtained using 30 GHz receivers at the OVRO and BIMA millimeter interferometers; with these highly sensitive receivers and the interferometric method's natural suppression of many systematic errors, we have obtained high quality images of 18 clusters with redshifts ranging from Z = 0.l5 to 0.83, with a sensitivity of 25 microkelvin. When combined with x-ray imaging and spectroscopic data, analysis of these S-Z images provides an independent measurement of the cosmic distance scale Results from a joint analysis of the X-ray and S-Z data will be presented, and we will describe the constraints that S-Z effect measurements can ultimately place on Ho and Omega.

Joy, Marshall K.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Design, Evaluation and GCM-Performance of a New Parameterization for Microphysics of Clouds with Relaxed Arakawa-Schubert Scheme (McRas)

A prognostic cloud scheme named McRAS (Microphysics of clouds with Relaxed Arakawa-Schubert Scheme) was developed with the aim of improving cloud-microphysics, and cloud-radiation interactions in GCMs. McRAS distinguishes convective, stratiform, and boundary-layer clouds. The convective clouds merge into stratiform clouds on an hourly time-scale, while the boundary-layer clouds do so instantly. The cloud condensate transforms into precipitation following the auto-conversion relations of Sundqvist that contain a parametric adaptation for the Bergeron-Findeisen process of ice crystal growth and collection of cloud condensate by precipitation. All clouds convect, advect, and diffuse both horizontally and vertically with a fully active cloud-microphysics throughout its life-cycle, while the optical properties of clouds are derived from the statistical distribution of hydrometeors and idealized cloud geometry. An evaluation of McRAS in a single column model (SCM) with the GATE Phase III data has shown that McRAS can simulate the observed temperature, humidity, and precipitation without discernible systematic errors. An evaluation with the ARM-CART SCM data in a cloud model intercomparison exercise shows reasonable but not an outstanding accurate simulation. Such a discrepancy is common to almost all models and is related, in part, to the input data quality. McRAS was implemented in the GEOS II GCM. A 50 month integration that was initialized with the ECMWF analysis of observations for January 1, 1987 and forced with the observed sea-surface temperatures and sea-ice distribution and vegetation properties (biomes, and soils), with prognostic soil moisture, snow-cover, and hydrology showed a very realistic simulation of cloud process, incloud water and ice, and cloud-radiative forcing (CRF). The simulated ITCZ showed a realistic time-mean structure and seasonal cycle, while the simulated CRF showed sensitivity to vertical distribution of cloud water which can be easily altered by the choice of time constant and incloud critical cloud water amount regulators for auto-conversion. The CRF and its feedbacks also have a profound effect on the ITCZ. Even though somewhat weaker than observed, the McRAS-GCM simulation produces robust 30-60 day oscillations in the 200 hPa velocity potential. Two ensembles of 4-summer (July, August, September) simulations, one each for 1987 and 1988 show that the McRAS-GCM simulates realistic and statistically significant precipitation differences over India, Central America, and tropical Africa. Several seasonal simulations were performed with McRAS-GEOS II GCM for the summer (June-July- August) and winter (December-January-February) periods to determine how the simulated clouds and CRFs would be affected by: i) advection of clouds; ii) cloud top entrainment instability, iii) cloud water inhomogeneity correction, and (iv) cloud production and dissipation in different cloud-processes. The results show that each of these processes contributes to the simulated cloud-fraction and CRF.

Sud, Y. C.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Reprocessing Microflare Data

The report concerns work on detecting and cataloging solar microflares using an automated. An accompanying figure represents the solar microflare distribution during the period of April 1991 to November 1992, the height of solar activity after the launch of CGRO. It also shows the distribution extending below the distribution obtained at GSFC by manual means. We have implemented significant refinements in the search algorithm. The algorithm in its simplest form searches for transient events and based upon the distribution of the signal among the different BATSE detectors, we can assign it to be of solar origin if the signal distribution conforms to what one expects from a burst or transient from that direction. One of the major problems in an earlier effort was to search for microflares and large flares simultaneously. The requirement for a dynamic range of almost 10(exp 4) resulted in ambiguous identifications at the low side of the distribution. We have since restricted the search to events with peak count rates under 2000/s. Larger events are easily identified in the manual search, so we have chosen not to duplicate that work. The second problem was that missing counts existed below channel 0 in the BATSE Large Area Detector (LAD) data. These have been recovered and are now included in the search process. This provides data below 20 keV, and as we get closer to the thermal part of the spectrum, it provides greater sensitivity. The third problem was that too many BATSE detectors were used in the search. Detectors with pointing directions far from the Sun, although detecting the event, had poorly known responses. Detectors greater than approximately 60 degrees off the Sun are no longer included in the search process. By reducing the systematic errors with the large off-axis detectors we can conduct more rigorous statistical tests of a candidate event to ascertain whether it originated from the solar direction. We have reprocessed the period in the early mission that covers solar maximum and constructed the microflare distribution shown in the figure. The results of the automated search start to deviate from the manual search results below about 1000/s. Not only do we now have this distribution but we have a database of solar microflares that was used to construct the distribution. This database contains the signal at higher energy channels as well as that in channel zero (and below). From this one can, using software at GSFC, construct a photon spectrum for some of the larger microflares. It can also be used in other solar studies, especially those that correlate the X-ray flux with emission at other wavelengths. With some additional effort we hope to integrate this database into the corresponding one residing at the Solar Data Analysis Center at GSFC. The entire CGRO mission's data can now be reprocessed to obtain the microflare distribution at all phases of the solar cycle. This work is in progress. The results of this work will be presented in forthcoming scientific workshops and conferences.

Ryan, James M.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Calibration of the Microwave Limb Sounder on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite

The Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) is a three-radiometer, passive, limb emission instrument onboard the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS). Radiometric, spectral and field-of-view calibrations of the MLS instrument are described in this paper. In-orbit noise performance, gain stability, spectral baseline and dynamic range are described, as well as use of in-flight data for validation and refinement of prelaunch calibrations. Estimated systematic scaling uncertainties (3 sigma) on calibrated limb radiances from prelaunch calibrations are 2.6% in bands 1 through 3, 3.4% in band 4, and 6% in band 5. The observed systematic errors in band 6 are about 15%, consistent with prelaunch calibration uncertainties. Random uncertainties on individual limb radiance measurements are very close to the levels predicted from measured radiometer noise temperature, with negligible contribution from noise and drifts on the regular in-flight gain calibration measurements.

Jarnot, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Shape and Orientation of Mercury from Radar Ranging Data

If Mercury's radius is expanded in Legendre functions to the second degree and order, the systematic error in radar ranging can be reduced significantly. We interpret the expansion coefficients in terms of a best-fit ellipsoid displaced with respect to the center of mass in the equatorial plane. The ellipsoid's principal axes are rotated in the equatorial plane such that the long axis is aligned with cartographic longitude 15.3 deg +/- 2.9 deg (west). The pole location is consistent with the IAU pole, normal to Mercury's orbital plane. There is a significant equatorial ellipticity (a - b)/a = (540 +/- 54) x 10(exp -6). The center of figure is offset from the center of mass (C.F.-C.M.) by 640 +/- 78 m in the equatorial plane in the direction of cartographic longitude 319.5 deg +/- 6.9 deg. The magnitude of the equatorial center of figure offset implies an excess crustal thickness of 12 km or less, comparable to the Moon's excess. By comparing the equatorial ellipticity with the Mariner 10 gravity coefficient C(sub 22) and assuming Airy isostatic compensation, we conclude that Mercury's crustal thickness is in the range from 100 to 300 km.

Anderson, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1996

All-Sky Search for Transient Sources near 0.5 MeV with the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE)

We present a search for bright, transient emission lines near 0.5 MeV in nearly two years of data from the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory, Such features have been reported from black hole candidates Nova Muscae and 1E 1740.7-2942 and from the Crab, lasting for about 1 day. Our survey covers the whole sky and is sensitive to events with durations from 0.5-3.0 day. No transients are observed, and the systematic errors are low enough that the upper limits are significantly below the fluxes of the two most significant events previously reported.

Smith, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS1998

PCA/HEXTE Observations of Coma and A2319

The Coma cluster was observed in 1996 for 90 ks by the PCA and HEXTE instruments aboard the RXTE satellite, the first simultaneous, pointing measurement of Coma in the broad, 2-250 keV, energy band. The high sensitivity achieved during this long observation allows precise determination of the spectrum. Our analysis of the measurements clearly indicates that in addition to the main thermal emission from hot intracluster gas at kT=7.5 keV, a second spectral component is required to best-fit the data. If thermal, it can be described with a temperature of 4.7 keV contributing about 20% of the total flux. The additional spectral component can also be described by a power-law, possibly due to Compton scattering of relativistic electrons by the CMB. This interpretation is based on the diffuse radio synchrotron emission, which has a spectral index of 2.34, within the range allowed by fits to the RXTE spectral data. A Compton origin of the measured nonthermal component would imply that the volume-averaged magnetic field in the central region of Coma is B =0.2 micro-Gauss, a value deduced directly from the radio and X-ray measurements (and thus free of the usual assumption of energy equipartition). Barring the presence of unknown systematic errors in the RXTE source or background measurements, our spectral analysis yields considerable evidence for Compton X-ray emission in the Coma cluster.

Rephaeli, Yoel↗
NASA NTRS1990

Long-Term Trends in the Concentrations of SF6, CHClF2, and COF2 in the Lower Stratosphere from Analysis of High-Resolution Infrared Solar Occultation Spectra

Long-term trends in the concentrations of SF6, CHClF2 (CFC-22), and COF2 in the lower stratosphere have been derived from analysis of ca. 1980 and more recent infrared solar occultation spectra recorded near 32 deg N latitude at approx. 0.02/ cm resolution. Consistent sets of line parameters and spectral calibration methods have been used in the retrievals to minimize systematic error effects. Quoted error limits are 1 sigma estimated precisions. The SF6 and CHClF2 results are based on spectra recorded by balloon-borne interferometers in March 1981 and June 1988 and a comparison of these results with the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) Experiment/Spacelab 3 measurements obtained in May 1985 near 30 deg N latitude. In the 13-18 km altitude range the mean measured SF6 mixing ratio in parts per trillion by volume (pptv) increased from 1.17 +/- 0.21 in March 1981 to 2.02 +/- 0.20 pptv in June 1988, and the CHClF2 mixing ratio below 15 km altitude increased from 51 +/- 8 pptv in March 1981 to 102 +/- 10 pptv in June 1988. The CHClF2 retrievals used new empirical CHClF2 line parameters derived from 0.03/cm resolution laboratory spectra recorded at six temperatures between 203 and 293 K; the derived mixing ratios are approx. 30% higher than obtained with earlier sets of line parameters, thereby removing a large discrepancy noted previously between IR and in situ measurements of CHClF2. Assuming an exponential growth model for fitting the trends, SF6 and CHClF2 mean increase rates of 7.4% +/- 1.9% and 9.4% +/- 1.3% /year, are obtained, respectively, which correspond to cumulative increases by factors of approx. 1.7 and -2.0 in the concentrations of these gases over the 7.2-year measurement period. Analysis of spectra recorded in October 1979 and April 1989 yields COF2 volume mixing ratios that are respectively 0.44 +/- 0.17 and 1.21 +/- 0.24 times the ATMOS/Spacelab 3 values, from which an average COF2 increase rate of 10.3 +/- 1.8%/ year over this time period has been estimated. The present results are compared with previously reported observations and trends and with one-dimensional model calculations. The model calculated trends are in reasonably good agreement with the observations.

Rinsland, C. P.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Solar Microflare with BATSE

Our work on detecting and cataloging solar microflares using an automated method is illustrated in the accompanying figure. The figure represents the solar microflare distribution during the period of April 1991 to November 1992, the height of solar activity after the launch of The Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO). It also shows the distribution extending below the distribution obtained at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) by manual means. We have implemented significant refinements in the search algorithm. The algorithm in its simplest form searches for transient events and based upon the distribution of the signal among the different Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) detectors, we can assign it to be of solar origin if the signal distribution conforms to what one expects from a burst or transient from that direction. One of the major problems in the earlier effort was to search for microflares and large flares simultaneously. The requirement for a dynamic range of almost 10 (exp 4) resulted in ambiguous identifications at the low side of the distribution. We have since restricted the search to events with peak count rates under 2000 s (exp -1). Larger events are easily identified in the manual search, so we have chosen not to duplicate that work. The second problem was that missing counts existed below channel 0 in the Burst and Transient Source Experiment Large Area Detector data (BATSE LAD). These have been recovered and are now included in the search process. This provides data below 20 keV, and as we get closer to the thermal part of the spectrum, it provides greater sensitivity. The third problem was that too many BATSE detector were used in the search. Detectors with pointing directions far from the Sun, although detecting the event, had poorly known responses. Detectors greater than approximately 60 deg. off the Sun are no longer included in the search process. By reducing the systematic errors with the large off-axis detectors we can conduct more rigorous statistical tests of a candidate event to ascertain whether it originated from the solar direction. We have reprocessed the period in the early mission that covers solar maximum and constructed the microflare distribution shown in the figure. The results of the automated search start to deviate from the manual search results below about 1000 s (exp -1). Not only do we now have this distribution but we have a database of solar microflares that was used to construct the distribution. This database contains the signal at higher energy channels as well as that in channel zero (and below). From this one can, using software at GSFC, construct a photon spectrum for some of the larger microflares. It can also be used in other solar studies, especially those that correlate the X-ray flux with emission at other wavelengths. With some additional effort we hope to integrate this database into the corresponding one residing at the Solar Data Analysis Center at GSFC. The entire CGRO mission's data can now be reprocessed to obtain the microflare distribution at all phases of the solar cycle. This work is in progress. The results of this work will be presented in forthcoming scientific workshops and conferences.

Ryan, James M.↗
NASA NTRS1999

X-Raying Molecular Clouds

Dense interstellar clouds are known to consist almost entirely of molecular hydrogen gas which is, however, normally not observable directly. We have developed a new method for measuring gas column density through its X-ray absorption. The latest data analysis software has been implemented to correct for both exposure and flat- fielding and to subtract various non-cosmic background from individual images. The ROSAT PSPC observations on the R CrA cloud have been merged into maps in three broad energy bands, with corrections for residual differential background between the observations. Individual sources have been detected and removed from these maps. We have then applied the shadowing technique to derive the first column density map based on X-ray data alone. We have conducted various tests to access systematic errors, including possible background intensity variations. We have also proposed a NRAO 12m telescope mapping of the CO distribution in the R CrA cloud. This mapping will supplement our X-ray measurement to allow for a direct calibration of the Co-to-H2 conversion ratio. We use a multi-energy band X-ray shadowing technique to measure the total column density distribution of molecular clouds.

Wang, Q. Daniel↗
NASA NTRS1990

An Ab Initio Study of the Low-Lying Doublet States of AgO and AgS

Spectroscopic constants (D(sub o), r(sub e), mu(sub e), T(sub e)) are determined for the doublet states of AgO and AgS below approx. = 30000/cm. Large valence basis sets are employed in conjunction with relativistic effective core potentials (RECPs). Electron correlation is included using the modified coupled-pair functional (MCPF) and multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) methods. The A(sup 2)Sigma(sup +) - X(sup 2)Pi band system is found to occur in the near infrared (approx. = 9000/cm) and to be relatively weak with a radiative lifetime of 900 microns for A(sup 2)Sigma(sup +) (upsilon = 0). The weakly bound C(sup 2)Pi state (our notation), the upper state of the blue system, is found to require high levels of theoretical treatment to determine a quantitatively accurate potential. The red system is assigned as a transition from the C(sup 2)Pi state to the previously unobserved A(sup 2)Sigma(sup +) state. Several additional transitions are identified that should be detectable experimentally. A more limited study is performed for the vertical excitation spectrum of AgS. In addition, a detailed all-electron study of the X(sup 2)Pi and A(sup 2)Sigma(sup +) states of AgO is carried out using large atomic natural orbital (ANO) basis sets. Our best calculated D(sub o) value for AgO is significantly less than the experimental value, which suggests that there may be some systematic error in the experimental determination.

Bauschlicher, Charles W., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1999

1D Variational Assimilation of TOVS/ATOVS Level 1b Data

Recently, it has been shown that the use of observations from satellite-borne microwave and infrared radiometers in data assimilation systems consistently increases forecast skill. Considerable effort has been expended over the past two decades, particularly with the TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS), to achieve this result. The positive impact on forecast skill has resulted from improvements in quality control algorithms, systematic error correction schemes, and data assimilation systems. Despite these recent advances, there are still many issues regarding the use of satellite data in data assimilation systems that remain unresolved. For example, at several centers, much of the TOVS data are not assimilated over land as a result of the difficulty in specifying the surface emissivity. In this study, we add the microwave surface emissivity to the state vector so that it is retrieved rather than specified by a model. The LDVAR temperature and humidity information is then assimilated interactively into the Goddard Earth Observing System - Data Assimilation System (GEOS-DAS). Results of 1DVAR assimilations with both TOVS and ATOVS will be shown. We will compare the results obtained with HIRS/MSU/SSU and HIRS/AMSU-A2.

Joiner, J.↗
NASA NTRS2000

The Charge Transfer Efficiency and Calibration of WFPC2

A new determination of WFPC2 photometric corrections is presented, using HSTphot reduction of the WFPC2 Omega Centauri and NGC 2419 observations from January 1994 through March 2000 and a comparison with ground-based photometry. No evidence is seen for any position-independent photometric offsets (the "long-short anomaly"); all systematic errors appear to be corrected with the CTE and zero point solution. The CTE loss time dependence is determined to be very significant in the Y direction, causing time-independent CTE solutions to be valid only for a small range of times. On average, the present solution produces corrections similar to Whitmore, Heyer, & Casertano, although with an improved functional form that produces less scatter in the residuals and determined with roughly a year of additional data. In addition to the CTE loss characterization, zero point corrections are also determined as functions of chip, gain, filter, and temperature. Of interest, there are chip-to-chip differences of order 0.01 - 0.02 magnitudes relative to the Holtzman et al. calibrations, and the present study provides empirical zero point determinations for the non-standard filters such as the frequently-used F450W, F606W, and F702W.

Dolphin, Andrew E.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Retrieval Assimilation and Modeling of Atmospheric Water Vapor from Ground- and Space-Based GPS Networks: Investigation of the Global and Regional Hydrological Cycles

Uncertainty over the response of the atmospheric hydrological cycle (particularly the distribution of water vapor and cloudiness) to anthropogenic forcing is a primary source of doubt in current estimates of global climate sensitivity, which raises severe difficulties in evaluating its likely societal impact. Fortunately, a variety of advanced techniques and sensors are beginning to shed new light on the atmospheric hydrological cycle. One of the most promising makes use of the sensitivity of the Global Positioning System (GPS) to the thermodynamic state, and in particular the water vapor content, of the atmosphere through which the radio signals propagate. Our strategy to derive the maximum benefit for hydrological studies from the rapidly increasing GPS data stream will proceed in three stages: (1) systematically analyze and archive quality-controlled retrievals using state-of-the-art techniques; (2) employ both currently available and innovative assimilation procedures to incorporate these determinations into advanced regional and global atmospheric models and assess their effects; and (3) apply the results to investigate selected scientific issues of relevance to regional and global hydrological studies. An archive of GPS-based estimation of total zenith delay (TZD) data and water vapor where applicable has been established with expanded automated quality control. The accuracy of the GPS estimates is being monitored; the investigation of systematic errors is ongoing using comparisons with water vapor radiometers. Meteorological packages have been implemented. The accuracy and utilization of the TZD estimates has been improved by implementing a troposphere gradient model. GPS-based gradients have been validated as real atmospheric moisture gradients, establishing a link between the estimated gradients and the passage of weather fronts. We have developed a generalized ray tracing inversion scheme that can be used to analyze occultation data acquired from space- or land-based receivers. The National Center for Atmospheric Research mesoscale model (version MM5) has been adapted for Southern California, and assimilation studies are underway. Additional information is contained in the original.

Dickey, Jean O.↗
NASA NTRS2000

The Importance of Local Surveys for Tying Techniques Together

The synergistic benefits of combining observations from multiple space geodesy techniques located at a site are a main reason behind the proposal for the establishment of the International Space Geodetic and Gravimetric Network (ISGN). However, the full benefits of inter-comparison are only realized when the spatial relationships between the different space geodetic systems are accurately determined. These spatial relationships are best determined and documented by developing a local reference network of stable ground monuments and conducting periodic surveys to tie together the reference points (for example: the intersection of rotation axes of a VLBI antenna) of the space geodetic systems and the ground monument network. The data obtained from local surveys is vital to helping understand any systematic errors within an individual technique and to helping identify any local movement or deformation of the space geodetic systems over time.

Long, James L.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Interferometric Techniques for Gravitational Wave Detection in Space

The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission will detect gravitational waves from galactic and extragalactic sources, most importantly those involving supermassive black holes. The primary goal of this project is to investigate stability and robustness issues associated with LISA interferometry. We specifically propose to study systematic errors arising from: optical misalignments, optical surface errors, thermal effects and pointing tolerances. This report covers the first fiscal year of the grant, from January 1st to December 31st 1999. We have employed an optical modeling tool to evaluate the effect of misplaced and misaligned optical components. Preliminary results seem to indicate that positional tolerances of one micron and angular tolerances of 0.6 millirad produce no significant effect on the achievable contrast of the interference pattern. This report also outlines research plans for the second fiscal year of the grant, from January 1st to December 31st 2000. Since the work under NAG5-6880 has gone more rapidly than projected, our test bed interferometer is operational, and can be used for measurements of effects that cause beam motion. Hence, we will design, build and characterize a sensor for measuring beam motion, and then install it. We are also planning a differential wavefront sensor based on a quadrant photodiode as a first generation sensor.

Stebbins, Robin T↗
NASA NTRS2000

Global Warming: Evidence from Satellite Observations

Observations made in Channel 2 (53.74 GHz) of the Microwave Sounding Unit (MSU) radiometer, flown onboard sequential, sun-synchronous, polar-orbiting NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) operational satellites, indicate that the mean temperature of the atmosphere over the globe increased during the period 1980 to 1999. In this study, we have minimized systematic errors in the time series introduced by satellite orbital drift in an objective manner. This is done with the help of the onboard warm-blackbody temperature, which is used in the calibration of the MSU radiometer. The corrected MSU Channel 2 observations of the NOAA satellite series reveal that the vertically-weighted global-mean temperature of the atmosphere, with a peak weight near the mid troposphere, warmed at the rate of 0.13 +/- 0.05 K/decade during 1980 to 1999. The global warming deduced from conventional meteorological data that have been corrected for urbanization effects agrees reasonably with this satellite-deduced result.

Prabhakara, C.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Design and Performance of McRas in SCMs and GEOS I/II GCMs

The design of a prognostic cloud scheme named McRAS (Microphysics of clouds with Relaxed Arakawa-Schubert Scheme) for general circulation models (GCMs) will be discussed. McRAS distinguishes three types of clouds: (1) convective, (2) stratiform, and (3) boundary-layer types. The convective clouds transform and merge into stratiform clouds on an hourly time-scale, while the boundary-layer clouds merge into the stratiform clouds instantly. The cloud condensate converts into precipitation following the auto-conversion equations of Sundqvist that contain a parametric adaptation for the Bergeron-Findeisen process of ice crystal growth and collection of cloud condensate by precipitation. All clouds convect, advect, as well as diffuse both horizontally and vertically with a fully interactive cloud-microphysics throughout the life-cycle of the cloud, while the optical properties of clouds are derived from the statistical distribution of hydrometeors and idealized cloud geometry. An evaluation of McRAS in a single column model (SCM) with the GATE Phase III and 5-ARN CART datasets has shown that together with the rest of the model physics, McRAS can simulate the observed temperature, humidity, and precipitation without many systematic errors. The time history and time mean incloud water and ice distribution, fractional cloudiness, cloud optical thickness, origin of precipitation in the convective anvil and towers, and the convective updraft and downdraft velocities and mass fluxes all show a realistic behavior. Performance of McRAS in GEOS 11 GCM shows several satisfactory features but some of the remaining deficiencies suggest need for additional research involving convective triggers and inhibitors, provision for continuously detraining updraft, a realistic scheme for cumulus gravity wave drag, and refinements to physical conditions for ascertaining cloud detrainment level.

Sud, Yogesh C.↗