Factors responsible for the vertical development of tropical oceanic cumulus convection

The factors responsible for the development of cumulus convection were investigated by the use of observational data over tropical western Pacific (TWP) and cloud resolving simulations in idealized settings. The radiosonde data was collected from a Japanese research vessel in TWP areas to classify the characterstic temperature and moisture profiles depending on precipitation amounts. Numerical experiments with a cloud-resolving model, the Advanced regional Prediction System (ARPS), was done to investigate in the sensitivity of the vertical development of cumulus convection to moisture profile and stability. It was found that the development of cumulus cloud was suppressed due to the entrainment of dry air in mid to upper levels.