1. Objectives of the Workshop
A. Pier Siebesma
KNMI
De Bilt
The Netherlands
And
Joao Teixeira
NURC
La Spezia
Italy

2. Objective of RICO “To understand shallow cumulus and processes
involved at all relevant scales, with special
attention to precipitation ”

3. Questions for RICO data analysis
Does Shallow Cumulus precipitate?
How much does Shallow Cumulus Precipitate?
What is the observed mean state of the RICO shallow cu?
(temperature, humidity, cloud cover profiles, etc)
Is it different from ATEX, BOMEX?
What is the entrainment mechanism?
What is the spatial structure of the shallow cu:
Are the mesosale structures
Can we categorize them
How do they contribute to the precipitation

4. Questions for RICO LES/SCM intercomparison
Do LES/SCM reproduce the observed mean state?
Do LES/SCM precipitate and how compares it with the data?
Do LES reproduce the same spatial strucured clouds?
Do precipitation affect the mean state?

5. GCSS/WGNE Pacific Cross-Section Intercomparison (GPCI)
ISCCP total cloud cover
Sea Surface Temperature
GPCI is a working group of the GEWEX Cloud System Study (GCSS)
Models and data are analyzed along a Pacific Crossection from Stratocumulus, to shallow cumulus and to deep convection
Models: GFDL, NCAR, UKMO, JMA, MF, KNMI, DWD, NCEP, ECMWF, BMRC, NASA/GISS, UCSD, UQM, LMD, CMC, CSU, GKSS

6. GPCI Motivation
To evaluate models and observations in the tropics and sub-tropics in terms of the atmospheric hydrologic cycle
To include 3D NWP/Climate models in the GCSS framework (SCM/LES/CRM intercomparisons have limitations)
To utilize a new generation of satellite datasets (e.g. AIRS, CloudSat, GPS)
To create a database of models and observations for future studies of the tropics and sub-tropics
Trying to adress further questions: Can models reproduce the main properties of the diurnal cycle in the (sub)tropics? Can models and observations characterize the humidity structure of the (sub)tropical upper-troposphere?