---
OA_place: publisher
OA_type: gold
_id: '19416'
abstract:
- lang: eng
text: 'Recently, Biagioli and Tompkins (2023, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022ms003231)
used a simple stochastic model to derive a dimensionless parameter to predict
convective self aggregation (SA) development, which was based on the derivation
of the maximum free convective distance ($d_{clr}$) expected in the pre-aggregated,
random state. Our goal is to test and further investigate this hypothesis, namely
that $d_{clr}$ can predict SA occurrence, using an ensemble of twenty-four distinct
combinations of horizontal mixing, planetary boundary layer (PBL), and microphysical
parameterizations. We conclude that the key impact of parameterization schemes
on SA is through their control of the number of convective cores and their relative
spacing, $d_{clr}$, which itself is impacted by cold-pool (CP) properties and
mean updraft core size. SA is more likely when the convective core count is small,
while CPs modify convective spacing via suppression in their interiors and triggering
by gust-front convergence and collisions. Each parameterization scheme emphasizes
a different mechanism. Subgrid-scale horizontal turbulent mixing mainly affects
SA through the determination of convective core size and thus spacing. The sensitivity
to the microphysics is mainly through rain evaporation and the subsequent impact
on CPs, while perturbations to the ice cloud microphysics have a limited effect.
Non-local PBL mixing schemes promote SA primarily by increasing convective inhibition
through inversion entrainment and altering low cloud amounts, leading to fewer
convective cores and larger $d_{clr}$. '
acknowledgement: This article is based on chapter 3 of AC Ph.D. thesis. The authors
thank Graziano Giuliani for his coding assistance. We also thank Daniel Hernández-Deckers,
Paolina Cerlini, and especially to Giovanni Biagioli for discussions and feedback.
We also thank two reviewers for their insightful comments. AC was supported by a
fellowship awarded by ICTP and by the European Union Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie
grant agreement No. 101034413. CM acknowledges funding from the European Research
Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program
(Project CLUSTER, Grant Agreement No. 805041).
article_number: e2024MS004791
article_processing_charge: Yes
article_type: original
author:
- first_name: Alejandro
full_name: Casallas Garcia, Alejandro
id: 92081129-2d75-11ef-a48d-b04dd7a2385a
last_name: Casallas Garcia
orcid: 0000-0002-1988-5035
- first_name: A.M.
full_name: Tompkins, A.M.
last_name: Tompkins
- first_name: Caroline J
full_name: Muller, Caroline J
id: f978ccb0-3f7f-11eb-b193-b0e2bd13182b
last_name: Muller
orcid: 0000-0001-5836-5350
- first_name: G.
full_name: Thompson, G.
last_name: Thompson
citation:
ama: Casallas Garcia A, Tompkins AM, Muller CJ, Thompson G. Sensitivity of self-aggregation
and the key role of the free convection distance. Journal of Advances in Modeling
Earth Systems. 2025;17(3). doi:10.1029/2024MS004791
apa: Casallas Garcia, A., Tompkins, A. M., Muller, C. J., & Thompson, G. (2025).
Sensitivity of self-aggregation and the key role of the free convection distance.
Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems. Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024MS004791
chicago: Casallas Garcia, Alejandro, A.M. Tompkins, Caroline J Muller, and G. Thompson.
“Sensitivity of Self-Aggregation and the Key Role of the Free Convection Distance.”
Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems. Wiley, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024MS004791.
ieee: A. Casallas Garcia, A. M. Tompkins, C. J. Muller, and G. Thompson, “Sensitivity
of self-aggregation and the key role of the free convection distance,” Journal
of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, vol. 17, no. 3. Wiley, 2025.
ista: Casallas Garcia A, Tompkins AM, Muller CJ, Thompson G. 2025. Sensitivity of
self-aggregation and the key role of the free convection distance. Journal of
Advances in Modeling Earth Systems. 17(3), e2024MS004791.
mla: Casallas Garcia, Alejandro, et al. “Sensitivity of Self-Aggregation and the
Key Role of the Free Convection Distance.” Journal of Advances in Modeling
Earth Systems, vol. 17, no. 3, e2024MS004791, Wiley, 2025, doi:10.1029/2024MS004791.
short: A. Casallas Garcia, A.M. Tompkins, C.J. Muller, G. Thompson, Journal of Advances
in Modeling Earth Systems 17 (2025).
corr_author: '1'
date_created: 2025-03-19T07:58:38Z
date_published: 2025-03-18T00:00:00Z
date_updated: 2025-09-30T11:04:38Z
day: '18'
ddc:
- '550'
department:
- _id: CaMu
doi: 10.1029/2024MS004791
ec_funded: 1
external_id:
isi:
- '001447023900001'
file:
- access_level: open_access
checksum: bc32677e63f8abb07b330f4a08da796d
content_type: application/pdf
creator: acasalla
date_created: 2025-03-19T07:58:21Z
date_updated: 2025-03-19T07:58:21Z
file_id: '19417'
file_name: Casallas_et_al_2025_dclr.pdf
file_size: 18285343
relation: main_file
file_date_updated: 2025-03-19T07:58:21Z
has_accepted_license: '1'
intvolume: ' 17'
isi: 1
issue: '3'
language:
- iso: eng
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
month: '03'
oa: 1
oa_version: Published Version
project:
- _id: fc2ed2f7-9c52-11eb-aca3-c01059dda49c
call_identifier: H2020
grant_number: '101034413'
name: 'IST-BRIDGE: International postdoctoral program'
- _id: 629205d8-2b32-11ec-9570-e1356ff73576
call_identifier: H2020
grant_number: '805041'
name: Organization of CLoUdS, and implications of Tropical cyclones and for the
Energetics of the tropics, in current and waRming climate
publication: Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems
publication_identifier:
eissn:
- 1942-2466
publication_status: published
publisher: Wiley
quality_controlled: '1'
scopus_import: '1'
status: public
title: Sensitivity of self-aggregation and the key role of the free convection distance
tmp:
image: /images/cc_by_nc_nd.png
legal_code_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/legalcode
name: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
(CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
short: CC BY-NC-ND (4.0)
type: journal_article
user_id: 317138e5-6ab7-11ef-aa6d-ffef3953e345
volume: 17
year: '2025'
...