WCRP GEWEX GMPP GCSS PCS

• [30/7/08] The next discussion of PCS WG cases will be at the ARM ARM CM & RP WG Meeting in Princeton. The meeting web page is [html]
• [30/7/08] Talks from the plenary sessions of the 4th Pan GCSS meeting are now online at [html]
• [25/6/08] A report on the PCS WG sessions held at the 4th Pan GCSS meeting [html]
• [27/5/08] The UPDATED agenda for the PCS WG sessions at the 4th Pan GCSS meeting [html]
• [15/5/08] Updates to the PCS web pages including the intercomparison page [html]
• [13/5/08] The 4th Pan GCSS meeting web page [html]
• [2/1/08] The latest news of the PCS [html]
• Archive of news

• Intercomparisons: a link to all current and past intercomparison pages
• Published work: some publications related to our work (not updated since 06)
• Meetings: past and future meetings of our WG.
• Contacts: instructions on how to (un)subscribe to our maillist and other contact details
• ARM Cloud Modelling WG: we often collaborate closely with this WG.

The goal of the GCSS Precipitating Cloud Systems working group (PCS - formally DWG and WG4) is to improve the parametrization of precipitating cloud systems in global climate models (GCMs) and numerical weather prediction (NWP) models through an improved physical understanding of cloud system processes. The main tools of the GCSS PCS WG are:

• cloud-resolving models (CRMs)-- numerical model that resolve some cloud-scale (and mesoscale) circulations in either two or three spatial dimensions
• NWP and climate models -- see the Met Office information on NWP and climate models
• single column models (SCMs) -- single column versions of NWP and climate models (see the SCM Page at CSU)
• limited area models (LAMs) -- higer resolution models (often similar to CRMs) nested within NWP or climate models
• Observational data campaigns -- often archived at the GCSS Dime site

GCSS PCWG organizes model intercomparison projects. The results from these intercomparisons are presented at annual meetings and in publications. The result provide a good foundation for groups to improve parametrizations in large scale models and to improve their process models (e.g. CRMs). The model intercomparison activities are led by memebers of the PCS WG. The 2002 WG4 report was compiled by Wojtek Grabowski and described the work of the GCSS WG4 at that time in some detail.