The Impact on Simulated Storm Structure and Intensity of Variations in the Mixed Layer and Moist Layer Depths

The sensitivities of convective storm structure and intensity to variations in the depths of the prestorm mixed layer, represented here by the environmental lifted condensation level (LCL), and moist layer, represented by the level of free convection (LFC), are studied using a three-dimensional cloud model containing ice physics. Matrices of simulations are generated for idealized environments featuring both small and large LCL LFC altitudes, using a single moderately sheared curved hodograph trace in conjunction with convective available potential energy (CAPE) values of either 800 or 2000 J kg 1 , with the matrices consisting of all four combinations of two distinct choices of buoyancy and shear profile shape. For each value of CAPE, the LCL LFC altitudes are also allowed to vary in a separate series of simulations based on the most highly compressed buoyancy and shear profiles used for that CAPE, with the environmental buoyancy profile shape, subcloud equivalent potential temperature, subcloud lapse rates of temperature and moisture, and wind profile held fixed. Two other special simulations, one for each CAPE, are conducted using the high LFC and the lowered LCL, with a neutrally buoyant environmental thermal profile specified in between, such that the equivalent potential temperature was similar to that at the LCL. These latter two cases correspond to situations where the moist layer depth exceeds that of the mixed layer, whereas in all the other cases the two depths were equal.